Extraction post-op instructions
1209 West 5th Street, Suite 100 Austin. TX 78703 P: (512) 391-0011 F: (512) 391-0031
- Bleeding
Important
Your gauze will likely show red spots throughout the first day — this is normal. The goal is for the gauze to turn mostly white before you stop biting on it. Change the gauze as often as needed until you reach that point.
1
Bite on the gauze as needed. When it is mostly white, you can stop.
2
If bleeding continues, place a moist tea bag inside the gauze and bite firmly — the tannins in tea help control bleeding.
3
If you run out of gauze, bite firmly on the tea bag alone until bleeding slows.
For the first 24 hours
Your saliva will appear pink or reddish from minor oozing — this is expected. Do not spit excessively or rinse vigorously. Doing so can dislodge the clot and restart bleeding. Rinse only very gently if needed.
- Pain
Day 2-3 are often the hardest
Begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthesia wearing off — always with food.
Simple extraction (1–2 teeth)
You may not experience much pain. Tylenol (every 3–4 hrs) or Ibuprofen 600 mg (every 4 hrs) as needed should be sufficient.
Infection, multiple teeth, or wisdom teeth
Expect moderate to severe pain. Take your prescribed pain medication as directed. If a single dose is not enough, you may double it. Alternating Ibuprofen between doses can also help significantly.
Here is what to expect day by day — using a Monday surgery as an example:
Day 1
Tuesday
May or not be bad
Day 2
Wednesday
Probably worse than Day 1
Day 3
Thursday
Often the peak — worst day
Day 4
Friday
Should begin to improve
Still in severe pain on day 4? — Possible dry socket
This is common with lower wisdom teeth. Call us — we can pack the wound with medication that provides significant relief. Do not wait it out.
If you become nauseous from pain medication, call our office. We can prescribe anti-nausea medication. Take any antibiotics prescribed until completely finished.
- Swelling
Important
Simple extractions (1–2 front teeth) may cause little to no swelling. For lower back teeth, multiple extractions, or wisdom teeth, expect swelling for 4–6 days, often peaking around day
Ice pack instructions — first day only
Apply for 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off for 4–6 hours total. Frozen peas or corn work best — they conform to your face and stay cold longer than standard ice packs.
- Diet
Important
0–48 hrs
Soft foods only — soup, cooked vegetables, mashed potato, scrambled eggs, and similar. No chewing required.
After 48 hrs
Gradually return to regular foods as you feel comfortable. Let your pain and comfort guide you.
- Oral Hygiene
Mouth cleanliness is essential to good healing. Beginning the day after surgery, clean your mouth thoroughly after every meal and brush your teeth as best you can.
- Warm salt water rinse
½ teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water — rinse gently 6 times a day. Continue until healing is complete
Remember
A clean wound heals better and faster. Do not skip rinsing after meals.
- Activity
Keep physical activity to a minimum immediately after surgery. Exercise raises blood pressure and heart rate, which can trigger throbbing or bleeding at the extraction site.
If you try to exercise
Stop immediately if you notice throbbing or bleeding. Reduced food intake after surgery may also leave you weaker than usual — give yourself time to recover before resuming normal activity.
After-hours emergencies — Dr. Eggleston
(512) 391-0011 ext. 103
Available after hours for urgent concerns