Recovery tips after your dental treatment

So you have had a treatment completed at a dentist, perhaps it was taking a tooth out (extraction) or a filling. But what do you do now? What should you do to optimise your recovery and protect your mouth going forward? Well you have come to the right place! Within this blog you will find our very own dentists tips and recommendations following common dental treatments.

Extractions:

The most important thing for you to do immediately after is to rest! Take it easy for the rest of the day, ensuring to limit exercise where you can and to keep your health up to avoid any bleeding. Additionally, avoid hot food or drinks until the anaesthetic wears off. Until this occurs, it is difficult to feel pain as you usually would, therefore leading to risk of burning your mouth or chewing your cheek. Another important tip is to not be tempted to rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours. You need to allow the socket to heal, meaning that you should be careful to not damage the blood clot by eating on that side or letting your tongue disturb it as it could lead to risk of infection and affect the overall healing process. Additionally, there may also be some tenderness in the area for the first few days, and in most cases some simple pain relief that you would take for a headache will be able to ease the discomfort. However, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and if in doubt consult your doctor or dentist first.

Filling:

Similar to aftercare for an extraction, it is important not to eat or drink until your numbness has completely gone. You may also experience some sensitivity to cold/ hot food and drinks and/or gum soreness following a filling, but this typically subsides within a few days. Along with this, with silver fillings, you should not chew hard foods or directly on the new fillings for the first 24 hours. Composite (white) fillings should set up right away and can be chewed on as soon as the anesthetic wears off.

For further recommendations for other dental treatments or if you would like to book in for an appointment, contact the clinic on 9877 9706.