Sipping Safely: When Can You Use a Straw After Tooth Extraction?

People fear tooth removal, and it’s understandable why they do. It takes a lot of courage to go for tooth extraction in Port Hueneme due to the post-results. One is how you will look afterward and during the recovery period. We will focus on what you should expect after tooth removal and how to take care of your wound post-tooth extraction. Additionally, we will discuss when can you use a straw after tooth extraction. This is because it is not recommended to drink using a straw after tooth removal. So, keep on reading to learn more.

Importance of Post-Operative Care

After tooth removal, the dentist will offer post-operative care tips. Some of the recommendations include the following:

• Rest for about two days after the treatment- you should not go to the gym after having your tooth removed or doing any strenuous activity. This is because strenuous activity leads to increased blood pressure, which can cause the wound to bleed.
• Avoid smoking, spitting, or brushing for the first 24 hours- smoking is not good for oral health. So, it would be best to avoid smoking after tooth extraction as it can lead to dry socket syndrome. In addition, spitting can dislodge the forming blood clot causing bleeding.
• Keep the tooth extraction site clean- a wound is left after tooth removal. This wound can be an opening for bacterial infection. Therefore, it is imperative that you keep the extraction site clean.
• Stick to soft foods- your gums and extraction site are tender after tooth extraction. So, eating hard, chewy, and crunchy foods is not a good idea. Instead, stick to jello, yogurt, cottage cheese, and pudding.
• Keep your head elevated while sleeping- tooth removal leads to bleeding. Use a pillow to keep your head elevated to ensure that the bleeding stops.
• Take any prescribed medications- the dentist near you may prescribe antibiotics and painkillers. Ensure you take these medications as prescribed and don’t stop even after the wound heals. Finish the prescription.

Now that you know some of the post-operative tips, why are they essential? Why should you follow them? Here is the importance of post-operative care:

• It speeds up the recovery process- following the aftercare tips ensures that the wound heals faster, speeding up the recovery process.
• Prevent complications during healing- failure to follow the aftercare tips may lead to bleeding and dry socket. Dry socket leads to excruciating pain in the extraction site and a foul odor coming from your mouth.
• Prevents dry socket- as mentioned earlier, dry socket can be caused by smoking, drinking with a straw, and spitting. Following the aftercare tips ensures your blood clot stays intact.
• Alleviates pain and swelling- tooth extraction cause minor pain and swelling around the extraction site. Using a cold compress and salt water rinse helps alleviate pain and swelling.
• Restores your oral cavity functionality faster- it becomes challenging to speak and chew well after tooth removal. Abiding by the aftercare tips ensures your wound heals well, restoring your chewing and speaking function.
• Controls bleeding- using a gauze on the extraction site reduces bleeding after having your tooth removed.
• Reduces visits to the dental clinic- there’s a lot that can go wrong if you don’t follow the aftercare tips. You might need to go to the dentist near you for other procedures to deal with the complications.

When Can You Safely Use a Straw After Tooth Extraction?

You might be wondering why the dentist advised against using a straw after tooth extraction. When you use a straw, pressure is exerted, which can cause the forming blood clot to dislodge. Once this happens, you will experience a lot of pain, and the open wound is prone to infection.

A blood clot is an essential part of the healing period as it stops bleeding and covers the gap left by the removed tooth. In addition, it protects the nerves and bones left exposed after removal.

When a blood clot forms, it means that your wound is healing up nicely. Nonetheless, it is not a sign that you should start using a straw. You should wait for about 3 days before you can use a straw. However, it depends on how quickly you’re healing from the treatment. It would be better to wait a week before using a straw just to be cautious.

At All Care Dental by the Sea, we focus on our patient’s recovery after any dental procedure. If you’re facing complications after tooth extraction, visit us, and our dental professional will treat your oral problem in no time.