Just had a tooth pulled? The next 24-48 hours matter, both for comfort and for proper healing. Here’s a clear, practical aftercare guide from our team in Dansville.
The first 24 hours: critical
What to do
- Bite firmly on the gauze we sent home with you for 30-45 minutes
- If bleeding continues, replace gauze and bite for another 30 minutes
- Take prescribed or recommended pain medication on schedule (don’t wait until pain is bad)
- Apply cold compress to the outside of your cheek, 20 minutes on / 20 minutes off
- Sleep with your head elevated
- Rest. Take it easy for the day.
What to avoid
- NO straws for 7 days: the suction can pull out the blood clot and cause dry socket
- NO spitting: let saliva flow into a sink or tissue if needed
- NO smoking for at least 72 hours (longer is better)
- NO carbonated drinks for 48 hours
- NO alcohol for 48 hours (especially if on pain medication)
- NO rinsing for the first 24 hours
- NO touching the area with your tongue or fingers
- NO physical exertion for at least 24 hours
What to eat (Days 1-2)
- Greek yogurt
- Smoothies (with a spoon, not a straw)
- Apple sauce
- Cottage cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Pudding, ice cream, gelatin
- Lukewarm broth or soup (not hot)
What to eat (Days 3-7)
Add gradually as comfort allows:
- Scrambled eggs
- Soft pasta
- Soft fish
- Well-cooked vegetables
- Oatmeal
- Soft sandwiches (no hard crusts)
- Bananas, ripe peaches
What to avoid eating (Days 1-7)
- Hard foods (chips, nuts, hard candy, pretzels)
- Crunchy foods (raw vegetables, crusty bread)
- Sticky foods (caramel, gum)
- Spicy foods (irritate the area)
- Foods with small seeds or grains (can lodge in the socket)
- Anything you have to chew on the extraction side
Brushing and rinsing
- First 24 hours: No rinsing. You can brush, but avoid the extraction site.
- Day 2 onward: Gentle salt water rinses 4-5 times a day (½ tsp salt in 8 oz warm water). Don’t swish vigorously: let it sit and tip your head.
- Day 3-4 onward: Brush gently around the extraction site. By day 7, normal brushing of the area.
The healing timeline
- 24-48 hours: Blood clot forms; pain peaks
- Days 3-7: Soft tissue starts closing over the socket; pain decreases significantly
- Week 2: Soft tissue mostly closed; back to normal eating with care
- 1-3 months: Bone fills in the socket (you won’t notice this happening)
- 3-6 months: Full bone healing complete
What’s normal vs. what’s a problem
Normal
- Mild swelling that peaks at days 2-3
- Pink-tinged saliva for 24-48 hours
- A clot that looks dark red or grayish in the socket
- Bruising on cheek (some patients)
- Slight bad taste while healing
- Tenderness when chewing nearby for the first week
Call us
- Severe pain that returns days 3-5, likely dry socket
- Bleeding that won’t stop after gauze pressure for 60+ minutes
- Increasing (not decreasing) swelling after day 3
- Fever over 101°F
- Pus or foul-tasting drainage
- Swelling that spreads to your eye, throat, or chest
- Numbness that lasts beyond what we discussed
Call (585) 335-2120. Don’t tough it out.
Dry socket prevention (the big one)
Dry socket, when the protective blood clot dislodges and exposes bone, is the most common complication of extraction. The pain can be severe and starts 2-4 days after extraction. Prevent it by:
- NO straws for a full week
- NO smoking for at least 72 hours
- NO vigorous rinsing or spitting
- NO chewing on that side
If you do get dry socket, we can treat it quickly. Call right away and we’ll get you in.
What about replacing the tooth?
If the extraction wasn’t a wisdom tooth, you’ll likely want to discuss a replacement option: implant, bridge, or partial denture. The longer a gap stays open, the more shifting and bone loss occurs. We typically discuss replacement at your follow-up visit.
Questions about your aftercare? Call our office at (585) 335-2120.