Dental extractions: post-operative instructions

Advice to help with a smooth recovery following your procedure

• The local anaesthetic should wear off in 2 - 6 hours.
• During this time avoid hot foods and drinks as they may burn your mouth.
• Be careful if eating so you do not to bite your lip or tongue.
• Do not rinse your mouth, spit, or touch the area for 24 hours. Do not disturb the blood clot in the tooth socket. Keep your tongue away. This may dislodge the blood clot and stop the socket from healing.
• It is best to have soft food for example pasta, mashed potato, scrambled egg or soup for the first few days.
• From 24 hours after your tooth extraction / surgery you can start cleaning your teeth as normal, but be careful not to disturb the tooth socket.
• From 24 hours after the extraction you should start using warm salty mouthwash:
  • Dissolve two teaspoons of normal salt in a large cup of hot water. Allow water to cool until safe enough to avoid burning the mouth. Rinse gently at least 4 times a day particularly after eating.
• Continue with these rinses for one week or until the socket has closed completely. This may take a few weeks.
• If you need to take painkillers, avoid any containing Aspirin, as this may cause bleeding. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE OF PAINKILLERS.
• If you were given antibiotics, follow the directions and complete the course. If you get a reaction to the antibiotics, e.g. rash, stop taking them and contact the hospital, your GP, NHS 111 or your local Accident & Emergency for further advice.
• DO NOT SMOKE for at least 48 hours as this may delay healing which causes pain.
• Avoid any strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
• If you have stitches these will dissolve. This may take a few weeks.

What if the tooth socket/mouth starts bleeding and will not stop?

It is normal to have some blood in the saliva for a few days after an extraction. This will give your saliva a red tinge. If is bleeding a thick red blood take the following steps:

• Gently rinse.
• Roll up a couple of pieces of the gauze given to you (or a clean cotton handkerchief) and apply over the tooth socket.
• Bite hard for 30 minutes.
• Repeat for another 30 minutes if it is still bleeding.
• Once it has stopped bleeding, the 24 hours as described above begins again.
• If it is still bleeding after 1 hour of biting hard contact us via the details below.

What to do if you need help/advice

• Pain and swelling will increase for 72 hours after any surgery including dental extractions. After this time it will start to settle. You may have pain, swelling and discomfort for a couple of weeks.
  • Be aware that if your surgery was more complex it may take even longer.

If you have severe pain or a facial swelling outside of this, or have persistent bleeding please contact (9am to 5pm Monday-Friday):

Email: uclh.enquiriesoralsurgery@nhs.net

Oral Surgery: 020 3456 1062 or 020 3456 1114

Special Care: 020 3456 1175 or 020 3456 1264

Please note, our admin team are very busy and email is preferable as it can be directed to one of our doctors on the same day.

Outside of these hours

If your symptoms cannot wait for in-hours care, please contact as below in cases of EMERGENCY only:

1. Tel: 111 (NHS advice service).
2. Visit your local Accident and Emergency service (A&E).
3. Contact the On call maxillofacial team:

Telephone: 020 3456 7890 and ask for the: “Maxillofacial Senior House Officer on call, bleep number 5602” (5602 is NOT an extension number).

Patient Information video about dental extractions

You can find out more by watching our video 'Dental extractions - information for patients' below.