Braces are commonly called upon to improve the alignment or position of teeth. In time, they will give you a better functioning mouth and a more appealing smile. If you also have a problem with one or more overcrowded teeth, your orthodontist might recommend a tooth extraction.
While your gums are healing, there are a few basic care considerations that will minimize your chances of suffering infection or other complications.
Try to eat a soft-foods diet or at the very least try to avoid chewing in that area of your mouth. Staying hydrated is important. However, you should try to also avoid drinking hot or cold beverages. You should also avoid drinking through a straw as this can pull blood clots loose from the incisions.
Your gums might bleed for a few days after the extraction. You can help minimize the bleeding by biting down lightly on a little rolled-up sterile gauze. Once it has stopped, you can wash away any lingering blood with a lukewarm saltwater rinse.
Tobacco use can significantly irritate healing gum tissues and increase recovery time. It also makes you more prone to developing an infection in the gums during recovery. If you do use tobacco products on a regular basis, this might be a good opportunity to also try a cessation program. Just try to choose one that doesn’t involve lozenges or nicotine gum. These can also irritate the gums.
If you need to have a tooth extracted in preparation for braces in West Jordan, UT, and you have further recovery questions, you can always call West Jordan Dental Office to speak to your dentist, Dr. Powell, or a member of our team.