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What Should You Avoid Before You Remove a Tooth?

At Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL, we are passionate about helping our clients improve their oral health and quality of life. We offer a variety of procedures to help our clients treat concerns, including a tooth extraction. Read on to discover everything you need to know about getting a tooth extraction, including what you should not do before you remove a tooth.

What Should You Avoid Before You Remove a Tooth?

For at least 24 hours before you remove a tooth, you need to avoid smoking, chewing, or vaping tobacco products. You also need to avoid drinking alcohol or taking an NSAID or another blood-thinning drug or supplement for 24 hours prior to your tooth removal. Furthermore, you must avoid eating a heavy meal before your tooth extraction.

What Should You Do Before a Tooth Extraction?

Before a tooth extraction, you need to make sure you have someone to drive you home from your appointment. You also need to advise your dentist on all of the drugs and supplements you take so he can advise you on any adjustments you need to make.

What Should You Avoid After a Tooth Extraction?

One of the most important things to avoid after you remove a tooth is brushing or flossing the extraction site for at least seven days. It is also crucial that you do not drink through a straw while the extraction site is healing due to the possibility of dry sockets developing. Additionally, you should avoid any activities that jar your mouth, like football or ATV riding. Moreover, you should not participate in strenuous physical activities, like running or swimming. Most people must wait at least two to three days after their tooth extraction.

What Should You Do After a Tooth Extraction?

After you remove a tooth, it is essential that you follow all of the aftercare guidelines your dentist gives you. For example, your diet should consist of nourishing foods that are soft and easily chewed, like applesauce and eggs. You also need to keep the extraction site clean by gently using a warm saline solution to rinse your mouth out several times daily. Another effective way to keep your extraction site clean is to use an antimicrobial mouthwash to rinse the area out gently two to three times daily. It is also vital that you take all prescription medications as directed, including analgesics and antibiotics.

Can You Benefit From a Tooth Extraction?

A tooth extraction can benefit a variety of people. Sometimes, it is necessary after severe trauma because a damaged tooth is beyond repair. You may benefit from a tooth extraction if you damaged a tooth significantly due to a motor vehicle collision, a sports injury, or biting into something too crunchy or hard.

Will Dental Decay Qualify You for a Tooth Extraction?

Yes, you may qualify for a tooth extraction if you suffer from dental decay. This condition occurs when a significant amount of enamel has been eaten away by severe plaque and tartar buildup. If you have a cavity, it is vital that you have it treated as soon as possible. Timely treatment with a fluoride varnish can restore your vital tooth enamel. If a cavity is left untreated, only root canal therapy, a filling, or a crown can treat the problem effectively. If you don’t treat a late-stage cavity, you may develop a tooth infection so severe that a tooth extraction is the only effective treatment method.

Will Gum Disease Qualify You for a Tooth Extraction?

Yes, you may qualify for a tooth extraction if you suffer from gum disease, otherwise known as periodontal disease. There are three stages of this disease, gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. If you suffer from early-stage gum disease due to tartar and plaque building up on your gum line, you may experience gums that are: 

  • Red
  • Swollen
  • Sensitive

If periodontal disease progresses into periodontitis, it is not just your gums that will be affected. The tissues and bones around your teeth will become significantly inflamed. If you develop advanced periodontitis, your tooth will loosen due to the deterioration of the gum and bone around the tooth. The only way to preserve the surrounding teeth is to remove the severely damaged tooth and replace it with a dental implant.

Would Having Crowded Teeth Make You a Good Candidate for a Tooth Extraction?

Yes, you may be an excellent candidate for a tooth extraction if you have crowded teeth. If you suffer from crowded teeth, the optimal treatment plan for you may be to remove one to four teeth that your jaw is too small to accommodate. With the help of braces after your tooth extraction, the rest of your teeth will have the space to shift into their appropriate positions. It is important that you have straight teeth with plenty of room for many reasons. One benefit of having extra teeth removed and straightening your remaining teeth is that self-confidence improves. You also will be able to clean your gums and teeth more effectively, mitigating the risk of developing gum disease or cavities.

Under What Other Circumstances Could You Benefit From Having a Tooth Extraction?

You also may be considered a good candidate for a tooth extraction if you have an impacted wisdom tooth. This problem occurs when your jaw is so small that your wisdom tooth grows in crooked. If your wisdom tooth is too impacted, it may push against the molar next to it, causing such problems as: 

  • Tender gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • Swollen gums
  • Red gums
  • Jaw pain
  • Trouble opening your mouth

 

Schedule an Evaluation Now

Before your tooth extraction, it is vital that you do not consume tobacco products or alcohol, and you should not arrive at your appointment with a full stomach. After your tooth extraction, you should avoid driving, vigorous strenuous physical activities, or any hobby that can result in trauma to your mouth. Schedule an evaluation with us now at Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL to learn more. 

Andrea La-Rosa

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Andrea La-Rosa

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