Bleeding, swelling, and pain after oral surgery limit the foods you can chew and swallow. After this procedure, you should include only soft foods in your diet. Soft foods can be prepared by brushing, grounding, mashing and moistening. A soft food diet after oral surgery is essential to provide your body with the nutrients and vitamins it needs in your recovery process. But what choice do you have?
Soft foods to eat after surgery
1. Liquids
Swelling in your mouth after surgery may prevent you from chewing hard and semi-solid foods. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons indicates that you should drink 48-64 ounces of fluids daily because of this.
Some of the liquids you may take after oral surgery include decaffeinated drinks such as coffee, soda and tea, flavored gelatin, and juices extracted from vegetables and fruits. Other liquids include flavored milk, yogurt, slurpee's, smoothies, smoothies, soft drinks and tapioca. Avoid cold water, alcohol and do not use a straw when drinking drinks as they may increase your pain.
You can prepare and take soups from meat and soft vegetables with broth. Just like liquids, they are easy to take and help your body with the nutrients it needs.
3. Grains and bread
You can eat soft breads and grains after surgery, including flour tortillas, white or wheat mix, rice, soft pasta, creamed wheat, pasta noodles, oatmeal, salted breads, and whole grain breads. Not only are they easy to eat, but they also provide energy during your recovery.
Other recommended grains and breads include congee, polenta, nut butter, soft pies, ramen noodles, risotto, flour beans and peas, soft muffins, muffins and donuts, pancakes, semolina, baked beams, spaghetti, lasagna and waffles .
4. Fruits and vegetables
Canned fruits and well-cooked vegetables are some of the soft foods you can eat after oral surgery. Fruits and vegetables are soft enough to chew and swallow, providing the body with the dietary components it needs.
Some of the vegetables and fruits you can consume include sweet potatoes (boiled or baked), mashed potatoes, ripe banana slices, baked apples and applesauce, cream potatoes, beets, spinach, canned carrot slices and hash browns. Others include pumpkin puree, cauliflower, fruit pudding, vegetable pies, avocado, soft beets and watermelon.
5. Protein-based foods
You can eat soft protein foods after oral surgery because they are easy to eat without causing much strain when swallowed, helping you recover quickly.
These include liver, fried, stewed, baked or sliced lean beef, tofu, tuna, chicken and salmon. Other protein-based foods you can eat include scrambled eggs, fish, meatloaf, soufflé and pulled pork.
6. Dairy products
Some dairy products are easy to consume after oral surgery. These include yogurt, custard, cottage cheese, light ice cream, milkshakes, ricotta cheese, soft cheese, custard, milk and cream cheese.
Sample menu
Fried eggs
Glass of fruit juice
Warm tea or coffee
Morning tea
Flavored milk
Dinner
Yogurt or ice cream
Vegetable soup
Chocolate milk
Afternoon tea
Dinner
custard
Chicken or beef soup
Fruit juice
Mixed vegetables
Flavored milk
Most people prefer the thicker consistency of the liquid immediately after surgery because it is soothing and stays on the spoon easily. The soft foods you eat after oral surgery must provide enough calories because you will need to increase your calorie intake to improve the healing process. Three liters of liquid or mixed diet will provide the same nutrients and calories as 5-6 medium meals. Dairy products are preferred after surgery because they provide more calories than water-based flour. Soft foods should provide vitamins, protein, fluids and calories daily.
Oral care
Apart from the soft foods to eat after oral surgery, they should also know how to take care of a faster recovery.
1. For pain
Pain after surgery is normal as the anesthesia wears off. You may experience severe pain 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Discomfort and soreness at the surgical site may persist for 3-5 days after surgery. The level of discomfort depends on the type of surgery and the individual.
How to control it:
To relieve this pain, take the medications prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon as directed. Be sure to tell your dentist about any herbal supplements or prescription medications you may be taking.
Avoid movements as they increase your discomfort and pain. If pain does not improve after 48 hours, notify your oral surgeon or dentist immediately.
The surgeon will often prescribe pain medications after oral surgery. Avoid driving or using cars while using these drugs because they make you feel drowsy. Also, do not overuse prescribed pain medication or drink alcohol.
Bleeding during the first 2 hours after surgery is normal and may last for about 24 hours. The mixture of blood and saliva can make it look like you are bleeding excessively. How to control it: You can control the bleeding by applying pressure to the surgical site using a gauze pad. Contact your oral surgeon or dentist if you still cannot control bleeding after 4 hours. Make sure the gauze pad your dentist places after surgery stays in place for about an hour, even if it becomes damp. You can change it after an hour if bleeding continues. Grasp your teeth firmly to press down on the gauze pad.
Do not rinse your mouth for 24 hours after surgery. Avoid chewing gauze, sucking on the wound, or straining. Avoid hot liquids because they increase blood flow, causing the wound to bleed. Also, avoid drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes as they slow down blood clotting and healing.
Tooth extraction is essentially a surgical operation. After it is carried out, special care is required for the oral cavity in general and for the remaining hole in particular. The main procedure by which this care is carried out is rinsing.
What exactly can be used to prepare all kinds of rinsing solutions is discussed in this article.
Ready-made medical solutions and preparations
This section includes many preparations for preparing solutions and ready-made formulations that can be used for rinsing after removal surgery.
Preparations based on iodine and chlorine
All of them are, to a greater or lesser extent, antiseptics. When rinsing with such solutions, the entire oral cavity and the wound formed after removal are disinfected, preventing infection from developing.
- "Iodinol". Contains molecular iodine, as well as a high molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol compound. Iodine is a very powerful antiseptic, and polyvinyl alcohol slows down and smoothes its effect. You should rinse with a diluted solution to avoid allergies.
- "Yox". Available in the form of a spray or solution. The iodine compounds present in the drug, as well as other components, for example, allantoin, provide a moderate immunostimulating effect, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects.
- "Chlorhexidine". Not only destroys bacteria and has an antiseptic effect, but is also directed against the appearance of certain fungi. The drug is effective even in the presence of a purulent focus with blood discharge from the wound. A solution with a concentration of 0.05% should be used.
- "Miramistin". A solution similar in composition to Chlorhexidine, but has a slightly less pronounced effect. In addition, it also actively fights against the herpes virus.
- "Corsodil". For rinsing, solutions are used only in a certain concentration - 0.2 or 0.05%. Has a pronounced disinfectant and antiseptic effect.
- "Eludril". In addition to the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect, when rinsing, the solution also has an analgesic effect, which is important in many cases after tooth extraction.
Antimicrobial agents that contain antibiotics
Solutions containing an antibiotic are aimed at suppressing the growth and destruction of pathogenic microorganisms.
- "Hexoral". In addition to protecting against microbes, fungi and bacteria, it also has an analgesic and hemostatic effect. It is good to rinse if, after tooth extraction, a clot has not formed in the socket and blood continues to be released.
- "Stomatidin". Among the indications of this drug is the prevention of infection in the alveoli after tooth extraction. Rinsing is carried out exclusively with an undiluted solution, this increases its effectiveness.
- "Givalex". It has an effect similar to Stomatodin and Hexatidine. You should rinse with it if, after tooth extraction surgery, inflammation or other undesirable consequences occur in the area of the hole.
- "Hexetidine". In addition to the disinfecting effect, antibacterial and antifungal action, it is also used as a local hemostatic agent.
- "Olazol". It is used to improve regeneration and accelerate healing of various mucosal injuries, including traumatic ones. Contains chloramphenicol and sea buckthorn oil.
Mouth rinses
In case of tooth extraction, you can also rinse with some pharmaceutical rinses that combine antiseptic components with deodorizing ones.
- "PresiDent". This rinse contains chlorhexidine, which has a rather bitter taste in its pure form. Here, all the qualities and effectiveness of this medicine are combined with a pleasant taste and smell.
- PerioAid. It has a beneficial effect on periodontal tissue, preventing the occurrence of inflammatory processes, and is used in case of any traumatic and surgical damage to the gum mucosa.
Contains chlorhexidine at a concentration of 0.12%, as well as cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05%. Depending on the presence of inflammation or swelling, it can be used either undiluted or in a ratio of 1 part solution to 2 parts water.
- "Elfix". In case of deep damage to the gums, such as during tooth extraction, an alcohol-free balm has a mild antibacterial effect and improves the condition of the gums. Can be used to prepare rinsing solutions for children.
- "Effective". Produces an antibacterial effect, but acts gently as it does not contain alcohol. It is recommended to rinse after each meal in order to promptly clean the hole, preventing the onset of the inflammatory process.
Anti-inflammatory drugs
If tissue redness increases near the wound, unpleasant or painful sensations increase, and swelling is observed, then inflammation begins, which can lead to serious consequences. Such complications, for example, often occur after wisdom teeth are removed.
The drugs included in this section are intended to relieve not only the inflammation itself, but also the pain that is caused by it.
- "Tantum Verde". A highly effective anti-inflammatory agent that also has a strong analgesic effect. Rinsing with this product should not be used after tooth extraction for children or women during pregnancy and lactation.
- "Rotokan". Helps with bleeding, as it not only promotes tissue regeneration, but also has anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effects. Only one teaspoon of product is required per glass of rinse water.
"Home" simple remedies
The bulk of the products from this section are available in almost every home or are sold in any pharmacy and are affordable to everyone.
In this case, the solutions are prepared independently, but they are as simple as possible and, moreover, universal.
- "Furacilin". The solution is prepared from tablets. Two tablets are required per glass of water to provide a strong antimicrobial effect. They should first be crushed well and then filled with lukewarm water. Rinsing is done about four times a day.
- Soda. To prepare the solution, one teaspoon is diluted in a glass of boiled water and cooled to lukewarm. Soda is a good and very affordable antiseptic.
- Salt. The effect of the saline solution is the same as that of soda - disinfecting. These two components can be mixed in equal proportions for greater effect in the inflammatory process.
When preparing a solution for rinsing, use only purified salt so as not to cause additional irritation of the mucous membrane.
You can also add 1-2 drops of iodine per glass to the soda-salt solution to enhance the disinfecting effect.
- "Potassium permanganate". This is ordinary potassium permanganate. You should rinse only with a very weak solution of a pale pink color, otherwise, instead of the antimicrobial effect, you may get irritation and burn the mucous membrane. The solution can be prepared in advance - one gram of crystal per liter of water.
Infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants
Decoctions or tinctures of herbs and plants that exhibit therapeutic properties are extremely popular both among patients and dentists themselves. Many of them, no worse than specialized medications, help relieve pain and other unpleasant consequences of removal or prevent more serious problems.
One of the main advantages of such rinses is their gentle action. It is also complex, since most of the plants used exhibit several beneficial properties.
- Golden mustache. It is a powerful biogenic stimulant. Helps stop inflammatory processes, strengthens capillaries, and has an antiallergic effect. The wound healing effect will help shorten the rehabilitation period after tooth extraction.
To prepare a rinse, use a diluted alcohol tincture or a fresh water infusion of pre-ground leaves.
- Chamomile. It has anti-inflammatory and mild analgesic effects.
- Sage. Hemostatic and antiseptic properties will be useful after tooth extraction.
- Oak bark. An antibacterial and astringent that has a hemostatic effect.
- Peppermint. Reduces inflammation and refreshes the mucous membrane, reduces discomfort.
- Eucalyptus. It is an antiseptic and helps relieve inflammation of soft tissues.
- St. John's wort. Normalizes metabolic processes in tissues, helping recovery.
The tincture of all these herbs is prepared in the same way. Two tablespoons of the dry mixture are poured with 250 ml of boiling water. After this, bring to a boil and leave in a tightly closed container until it cools completely.
Then strain thoroughly to remove solids. You can infuse mixtures of these plants with two or three components.
Essential oils
Natural essential oils of some medicinal plants, such as mint, eucalyptus, tea tree and thyme, also have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Add one drop of each of these oils to a glass of water for each rinse.
In order for rinsing after the removal of one or more teeth to help heal wounds and not have a negative effect, you need to remember a few simple rules that apply to rinsing by any means.
The solution must be at room temperature or barely warm. Volume for one rinse – 200–250 ml.
Even on the second and third days after surgery, there should be no intensive rinsing, only baths, when you just need to hold the liquid in your mouth.
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A modern person who is at least a little familiar with the rules of sanitary treatment of wounds believes that if it is necessary to disinfect scratches with an antiseptic, then this should also be done after a tooth has been pulled out. Therefore, many patients at dental clinics ask the question: “What to rinse with?” However, everything is not so simple here. This article will talk about how to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction and how to do it correctly. Usually the surgeon gives his recommendations after. But general information will be useful for all people to know.
Is it possible to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction?
In many cases, the doctor recommends starting to rinse the mouth already on the second day. Why? After the operation, the surgeon disinfects the hole that formed in the place where the root was. However, the specialist does not take any measures to stop the bleeding. Why is this being done? The blood clot fills the entire cavity of the socket and becomes a barrier to pathogenic microflora. If you start intensive rinsing on the first day, the clot will simply wash out. A fresh wound will remain defenseless against various types of infection. In this case, complications are possible. Therefore, the conclusion is this: you should not rinse your mouth without a doctor’s recommendation.
Which is correct?
So, we have already found out that during the first day (and sometimes you will need to wait two days) there is no need to rinse. During this period, only baths are allowed. Everything is simple here. A portion of the medicinal solution is taken into the mouth and kept there for several minutes. After this, the medicine is spat out. Then repeat these manipulations for about 15 minutes. Usually after baths you should not eat for about an hour. It is also worth noting that in simple cases that are not complicated, the doctor may not prescribe any additional oral care measures at all.
When is rinsing necessary?
After we learned that during the first days rinsing is not prescribed at all, the question arises: is it necessary to perform the procedure afterwards?
If the patient does not have teeth affected by caries and the gum tissue is absolutely healthy, the surgeon does not prescribe any baths, rinses, or any other additional care measures. The patient must only carefully follow the rules of daily hygiene procedures. Baths or rinsing with medicinal solutions are prescribed in the following cases.
- the inflammatory process was already present at the time of removal of the diseased tooth;
- during the operation a purulent abscess was opened;
- there are carious formations in the oral cavity;
- The patient suffers from gum disease.
In all of the above cases, the specialist prescribes treatment for the patient. It is he who prescribes this or that antiseptic and tells in detail what to rinse your mouth with after tooth extraction. Some products are purchased in pharmacies, but often they use solutions prepared independently at home.
The simplest remedy
How can you rinse your mouth after tooth extraction? These can be special solutions prepared by pharmacists or herbal decoctions. But now we will talk about the most popular remedy. This is a saline solution. If there is a fistula on the gum or an abscess has been opened, the remedy is prepared with the addition of baking soda. There is nothing easier than dissolving a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm boiled water. If the inflammation is purulent, then use half a teaspoon of salt and soda. The solution is perfect for both baths and rinsing. By the way, it is used not only in these cases. Saline and soda solutions are used in the treatment of gum diseases, and also as an anesthetic. As you can see, we always have the ingredients for preparing the solution in question on hand.
We use herbs
A decoction of medicinal plants is another answer to the question of how to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction. Of course, the antiseptic properties of herbs are rather weak. Therefore, they can be used for decoctions and infusions only in those clinical cases that are considered simple.
Sage, chamomile flowers, eucalyptus and calendula are great for rinsing. You can use each of the plants separately or a mixture of them. To prepare a decoction, you need to take a tablespoon of herbs and pour a glass of boiling water. If you want to prepare a mixture of plants, then combine them in equal proportions. Then also use one tablespoon per glass of water. To bring the product to readiness, the broth must be kept in a water bath for 10 minutes. Then let it brew. When the broth has cooled to a comfortable temperature, it can be strained and used.
I would like to add that for those patients who want to get the maximum effect from the rinsing procedure, the best option would be to use pharmaceutical products. You should especially not experiment on your health if your case was complicated by purulent inflammation.
Special disinfectant solution
Its role in dental procedures is very important. And all because the special product does not leave most microorganisms a chance to survive. Most often, dentists use Chlorhexidine solution. This is a universal remedy that comes to the rescue in many cases:
- cleaning the doctor’s hands and gloves before performing procedures in the oral cavity;
- treatment of various diseases of the mucous membranes of the mouth and gums;
- disinfection of root canals before filling them with filling mass;
- allows you to create sterile conditions in the oral cavity before surgery;
- as an additional superficial anesthesia.
Now let's talk about how to rinse your mouth with Chlorhexidine after tooth extraction. This disinfectant comes in two forms: aqueous and alcohol solutions. For rinsing, use exclusively water-based product. There are different concentrations. We will need a 0.05 percent solution. Therefore, when purchasing the product in question at a pharmacy, you must clarify in what form and what concentration it is available. Typically, specialists prescribe rinsing with Chlorhexidine for stomatitis, opening an abscess and other complicated types of surgical intervention. In this case, you need to know some rules for using this medicine.
Rules for the safe use of Chlorhexidine
- You should start rinsing no earlier than an hour after brushing your teeth. First you need to get rid of any leftover food. Just rinse your mouth with regular boiled water.
- Eating and drinking are also allowed an hour after using the product in question.
- Do not swallow the disinfectant solution. If, however, a small amount is ingested, it is necessary to take some kind of absorbent drug.
- First, ask your doctor how long to rinse your mouth with this solution after tooth extraction. It cannot be used for longer than 12 days.
Other means
What else can you use to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction? Sometimes doctors recommend using a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Or you can prepare a remedy from Furacilin tablets. To do this, dissolve two tablets in a glass of warm water. All this can be quickly and easily prepared by yourself.
Instead of a conclusion
In the article we found the answer to the question of whether to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction. We also looked at how to do this correctly and what means can be used in a given situation. In conclusion, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that, even with this information, you should not self-medicate. Entrust your health to specialists.
To this day, the opinions of surgeons are divided on whether it is worth rinsing the mouth after removing a dental organ. Some believe that this will lead to faster healing, others think on the contrary, that it will worsen the condition, moreover, it can provoke an inflammatory process in the socket. The patients themselves also have different opinions. To understand whether mouth rinsing after tooth extraction is harmful, you need to take into account many factors in a given clinical situation. Is it possible to rinse your mouth for faster healing? Or will it cause more harm?
Whether it is worth rinsing after extraction largely depends on the reason. At first glance, it may seem that there is no connection. But that's not true. First, we should list the reasons for having a tooth extraction operation:
- A tooth that is not subject to conservative treatment - most often in chronic forms of periodontitis;
- If the tooth is the cause of purulent-inflammatory processes;
- For orthodontic treatment when there is not enough space in the dentition;
- Recurrent pericoronoritis;
- Abnormal position of the wisdom tooth, due to which nearby soft tissues are injured.
What happens after deletion? After the tooth is removed from the socket, the surgeon thoroughly cleans it, removing all remnants of the inflammatory process. If necessary, curettage is performed. If the tooth is clean after extraction, it is not required. The edges are then compressed on both sides to create primary gingival tension. Then the patient is placed a sterile swab on the wound and asked to hold it for about fifteen minutes. During this time, a blood clot begins to form. It will protect against bacterial flora entering the wound and thus prevent the development of inflammation in the hole.
When should you not rinse?
Most surgeons are against rinsing because they are afraid of removing the resulting blood clot during rinsing. After all, it reliably protects the wound from infection. It is especially inappropriate to carry out such activities if healthy teeth have been removed. In other words, there is no need to disinfect the wound. She will heal on her own without any help. There are times when you have to put stitches. Here you can rinse. But in other situations this is not practical. Sometimes some doctors, having prescribed such procedures, justify their actions by the fact that there was a carious process near the extracted tooth or there were deposits on the extracted tooth. And germs from them can get into the wound. To avoid this, you must first carry out all the necessary therapeutic measures in the oral cavity.
What not to do after removal
To speed up the healing process, the doctor gives some recommendations that must be strictly followed:
- Do not eat or drink for two hours after surgery;
- Do not eat rough or hot food that day;
- Do not heat the area where removal was performed;
- Do not put your tongue into the wound;
- Try to avoid getting food into the hole.
And of course, you can’t rinse on the first day after surgery. For rinsing, you need slightly warm solutions, never hot. This can cause bleeding from the socket and prevent the formation of a clot. If this does not happen, then the hole will definitely become inflamed. That is, the formation of a clot is a very important stage, without which proper healing is impossible.
Why do you need to rinse after tooth extraction?
As mentioned above, the most common cause is the presence of inflammatory processes in and around the tooth. There are cases when an exacerbation occurs and pus is formed. Of course, after the causative tooth is removed, the pus will go away on its own, but it won’t hurt to help it. It is for such situations that rinsing after tooth extraction comes to the rescue. They help to quickly relieve the inflammatory process and speed up healing time. But some surgeons are confident that they have cleaned the wound well and there is no need to rinse to prevent the clot from being washed out. But if done correctly, these procedures can still be carried out. In addition, there are still cases when a person comes for removal without sanitizing the oral cavity. Oral hygiene is unsatisfactory. He may have many reasons for this. In such situations, the presence of any infection already creates a risk for the development of alveolitis. Therefore, in such cases, rinsing will not hurt.
How to rinse correctly
Again, let's return to the fact that most doctors are against these procedures for fear of washing out the blood clot. After all, people do these rinses so diligently that it is impossible to keep the clot in the hole. And for some reason, many are sure that the more thoroughly they rinse, the better. This is why surgeons refuse to rinse.
There is an alternative for such situations. You need to do mouth baths. That is, take the solution you are using, hold it for ten seconds and spit it out. No movements of the tongue, cheeks, or lips. This will prevent washout and disinfect the oral cavity. Moreover, they can be done frequently, about six times a day. Again, do not forget that the solution should not be hot, but slightly warm. This will prevent the blood clot from liquefying. After all, heat dilates the blood vessels and makes the blood thinner. Therefore, it is necessary to use solutions that are pleasant to the oral cavity - not too hot and not too cold.
What solutions are used for rinsing in dental surgery?
How to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction? There are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory solutions for this. Basically the same ones are used almost everywhere. Here are the most popular and proven to work:
- Chlorhexidine;
- Herbal tinctures.
Do not forget that rinsing means an oral bath, without any active movements - pick up, hold, spit out and that’s it. Repeat several times and this will be enough. Now let's look at each one separately.
It is well known to many people and can be found in almost every family medicine cabinet. Sold in any pharmacy for almost pennies compared to analogues. This is a very good and very strong antiseptic. You shouldn’t get carried away with them, because in addition to bad pathogenic bacteria, there is a chance of destroying good ones. And this, in turn, will lead to dysbiosis in the oral cavity. Against this background, mushrooms may develop. It is enough to take baths a couple of times a day. It is needed to neutralize bacteria and that’s it. If there is a burning sensation, this means that the mucous membrane is too sensitive to this concentration and will need to be diluted with water.
This antiseptic is very popular not only in dentistry, but also in otorhinolaryngology and the treatment of genitourinary organs. It is sold in a concentration of 0.01%. But each case has its own nozzle, so before purchasing it is better to immediately specify for what purpose it will be used. Many people think that since it contains chlorhexidine, it is its more expensive analogue. To some extent this is true, but Miramistin has a wider spectrum of action. It fights not only bacteria and microbes, but also fungi. Besides this, it is also safe. It can be used by everyone, even children, nursing mothers and expectant mothers. In dentistry, it is better to use a nebulizer. The solution should be sprayed no closer than five cm from the hole. There is no need to rinse your mouth with plain water after this. It is harmless and can be swallowed. And besides, almost tasteless.
This is one of the very first antiseptics in every hospital. But unfortunately, in its antiseptic effect it is inferior to the previous ones. In addition, many pathogenic microbes are resistant to it. But nevertheless, many people still use it. If you choose this, then you need to take a solution diluted with water. Once prepared, it can only be stored for a month and then in the refrigerator. Therefore, it is necessary to warm it up a little before use. It is difficult to find ready-made solutions, but there are furatsilin tablets, which are also diluted with water, but at home. You need ten tablets per liter of water.
Or the so-called potassium permanganate. It needs to be diluted with 0.1 grams of powder per liter of warm water. If you make a stronger concentration, then there is a chance of getting a burn to the mucous membrane. In addition, it is very drying. That is why it was banned for free sale. Now it can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription. And it’s even better not to use this solution at all, when there are other very good options.
Herbal tinctures
In this case, first of all you need to pay attention to what is contained. If the base is alcohol, then it is better to refuse. Because it has a warming effect and dilates blood vessels. And we already know what this can lead to - bleeding in the socket. And in general, when alcohol comes into contact with a wound, it causes pain due to its irritating effect. Therefore, it is better not to use it. If you still decide to use an alcohol tincture, it should be diluted with water. For rinsing, stomatophyte, salvin, and chlorophyllipt are most often used.
Mouth rinses
How can you rinse your mouth after tooth extraction? Special rinses used at home have not only an antibacterial, but also a good anti-inflammatory effect. They contain herbs that reduce inflammation and accelerate healing. They can also be used, but with caution. And again, do not rinse, but simply keep it in your mouth.
Many people's favorite soda and salt
They are loved more by patients than by doctors. After tooth extraction, if there is no purulent discharge, then it is better to forget about these components. They will irritate the wound. Very rarely, in cases where there is purulent discharge, a water-salt solution is prescribed in the form of the same baths. It is better for them to rinse a tooth with open canals when treating periodontitis.
From the solution, after removal, the healing process of the gums, on the contrary, may be delayed. Therefore, you should already forget about this ancient method without the necessary need.
Summarizing
What is the best way to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction? For many patients, it would be easier if there was one miracle cure. But let's return to the fact that it is better to abandon rinsing altogether than to cause even more harm. You should not self-medicate or listen to anyone’s advice other than your doctor. Only if he has prescribed it should the procedure be carried out. If the tooth is pulled out carefully without much damage to the soft tissues, the hole will heal much faster. Therefore, much depends on the clinical situation in this case and the skills of the surgeon.
Teeth need to be removed from time to time; no one is immune from this unpleasant procedure; on the contrary, every person undergoes tooth extraction surgery several times during his life.
In the modern world, tooth extraction procedures, thanks to new anesthetic drugs, are carried out as comfortably and absolutely painlessly as possible.
Rinsing your mouth after tooth extraction promotes tissue regeneration
Due to the use of new generation drugs for tissue regeneration, the healing process of the hole occurs much faster than it was before.
But in order to speed up healing and protect the operated cavity from infection, many begin to rinse the oral cavity with special solutions.
Whether it is possible to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction, what the reaction of the injured tissue will be to irritation with an antiseptic, depends on the reason for the operation and the individual characteristics of the human body.
Is it necessary to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction?
The tooth is removed in stages: first, the designated area is frozen, then, after complete freezing, the tooth is pulled out of the socket.
After extraction, the surgeon checks the resulting cavity for damage and tooth root debris, and treats the area with antiseptic agents.
The next step is to apply a sterile cotton swab. This procedure is performed to form a blood clot, which performs an important function for healing and protecting the socket from infection.
During planned extractions of baby or decayed (but not purulent) teeth, rinsing is not recommended in the first three days after surgery.
You should wait a couple of days after tooth extraction to start rinsing.
Tissue regeneration (the appearance of a natural protective film) occurs most actively during this period, and any intervention is extremely undesirable.
It is better to rinse after tooth extraction after two/three days, then a protective film will already form on the hole, and the procedure will only contribute to rapid healing.
Indications for rinsing
The recommendation on the question of whether rinsing is necessary after extirpation is individual for each individual case, but there are also general standards.
Rinsing your mouth after tooth extraction should be done if there are any pathologies:
- Carious lesions of adjacent teeth;
- Low body resistance to possible infection;
- Advanced periostitis (flux);
- The tooth was removed as a result of the treatment of periodontitis and other pus-forming pathologies;
- Suppuration from an open cavity;
- Traumatic injuries.
Rinsing is also prescribed for some complications.
In the above circumstances, in addition to rinsing, antibiotics are prescribed, which must be used for one or two weeks (depending on the degree of damage to the area) to prevent suppuration of the blood clot.
In this case, rinsing is not done in the usual way, but by using baths with an antiseptic solution: the liquid is kept in the mouth for a minute, and so on in several stages over a quarter of an hour.
It is highly not recommended to rinse the mouth using the usual method - active mechanical actions begin to irritate the postoperative area, the blood clot will be destroyed, and this will prevent epithelization of the wound.
If a treated tooth that did not have any inflammatory pathologies was removed, it is enough to maintain oral hygiene and thoroughly clean the gums and adjacent teeth.
Important: “Prophylactic rinsing in the first three days is not carried out without medical advice; there is a possibility of disrupting a blood clot, which can provoke the occurrence of alveolitis (dry socket)!”
Rinses
In dental practice, several general-spectrum medications are used to rinse the mouth in the postoperative period.
To optimize and speed up the gum healing period, you should use popular pharmaceuticals.
List of the most common medications to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction:
These drugs are recommended for use as therapeutic therapy after complicated extirpations.
Unless otherwise instructed by your doctor, you can rinse your mouth every time after eating; you should start rinsing no earlier than two or three days after surgery.
Herbal infusions that can be used to rinse your mouth during the postoperative period:
- Infusion of sage herb: relieves swelling, disinfects the oral area and promotes accelerated wound healing.
- Chamomile: has antimicrobial and regenerating properties, does not cause allergies.
- Elecampane: helps increase immunity and, as a result, rapid regeneration.
- St. John's wort: kills pathogenic microbes and prevents complications from occurring.
If the wound heals without discharge, discomfort or swelling, it is not necessary to rinse your mouth.
Important: “Before rinsing the mouth, you must make sure that the medicine will not cause an allergic reaction!”
After tooth extraction, certain rules should be followed; general recommendations are aimed at preventing inflammation and the full formation of a blood clot.
Contraindications to mouth rinse
Any action, no matter how elementary, has its indications and contraindications, this also applies to such a seemingly harmless procedure as rinsing the mouth after teeth extraction.
There are contraindications to mouth rinsing
The main danger is the development of a number of complications that can lead to additional surgical interventions or therapeutic treatment.
The most common complication is dryness of the socket, which occurs as a result of a blood clot being washed out of the socket, an area of the jaw bone is exposed and the wound becomes unprotected from infection.
This clot cannot be removed, washed or influenced by any other method - it is an important element for maintaining a sterile atmosphere in the wound.
After tooth extraction, the process of overgrowth of the alveoli occurs gradually; the period required for complete restoration of the tissue can last up to six months, it all depends on the degree of damage and the individual characteristics of the body.
During the normal healing process of the wound, the hole becomes covered with a white fibrous film, which indicates successful healing of the gums.
If the resulting film is gray or green in color, this indicates the presence of an infection, which most often forms due to the removal of a blood clot.
It is not recommended to treat an infected hole on your own; you should contact a professional.
Possible complications after rinsing
Complications may occur after rinsing
A symptom of complications after rinsing may be increased dryness in the mouth, redness of the mucous membrane, or in extreme cases, discharge from the socket.
The reasons for complications may be allergies or infection in the wound.
It is recommended to pay attention if:
- an unpleasant odor appears;
- “lumbago” occurs in the operated area;
- pain increases;
- bleeding begins;
- the film on the hole becomes greenish in color.
When a complication begins due to an allergic reaction of the body, the dentist prescribes antihistamines such as Suprastin and Tavegil.
There are cases when complications arise due to excessive rinsing or the use of a solution in excess of the permissible concentration.
Self-treatment in case of complications that arise is not recommended; improper use of medications can hide the real picture of the disease and lead to negative consequences.
If dangerous signs occur, you should contact the dentist who removed the tooth as soon as possible. The doctor will determine the cause of the pathology and prescribe rehabilitation medications individually.
Conclusion
Tooth extraction is a serious operation, which, if basic safety rules are neglected, can lead to negative consequences.
The opinions of qualified specialists vary: some doctors recommend the mandatory use of rinsing for prevention, others believe that this, on the contrary, prevents optimal wound healing.
In fact, rinsing after tooth extraction has been practiced for many years, and if the basic rules are followed, it will not harm anyone; on the contrary, many drugs cleanse the area of pathogenic bacteria, which promotes rapid healing of the wound without complications.
