What can i expect after a tooth extraction?
Tooth extraction is serious business and you can generally expect some bleeding, pain, and swelling after. A small amount of bleeding and oozing for about 24 hours after the procedure is not unusual. A pinkish tinge to saliva can be expected. Prying with your tongue in the area can contribute to the bleeding, so avoid that. One first aid tip is to moisten a tea bag-black or green tea, containing tannins-and compress that over the area. For at least 24 hours, don’t rinse the area directly. That can wash away any blood clot that’s forming and create an uncomfortable condition called `dry socket’. If heavy bleeding persists, contact a dentist. For pain, your dentist will usually prescribe some sort of medication. Don’t take aspirin to ease the pain after an extraction. Aspirin thins the blood and can increase bleeding. Acetaminophen, as contained in Tylenol, or ibuprofen, like in Advil, are good for pain relief. For swelling, a cold pack-15 to 20 minutes on and 15 to 20 minutes off -perio
