How should you care for your mouth after a denture dental extraction? Conventional dentures require removing your remaining teeth. Take a look at what you need to know about healthy mouth care after a full dental extraction procedure.
Follow the Dentist's Directions
The dentist will provide you with post-extraction care instructions. These are tailored to your specific dental and healthcare needs. Follow the directions exactly. Review the directions before your extraction procedure. This gives you time to read the instructions and the ability to ask questions if needed.
To better prepare for the post-extraction period, ask the dentist for a copy of the instructions before your procedure date. If the post-op directions include items or medications you need to buy, purchase these or fill prescriptions before the extraction date.
Limit Your Activities
Even though a dental extraction isn't a major surgery, you may need to rest after the procedure. The extraction area will bleed after the dental surgery. As this area heals, a clot will form in the tooth socket to stop the bleeding. Vigorous or strenuous activity can disturb the clot and cause the socket to bleed. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends patients limit these types of activities for at least 24 hours.
Choose Foods Wisely
Like other dental extractions, a pre-denture procedure will require you to change your eating habits for a few days. The extraction site may feel sore or tender. Hard or chewy foods can aggravate the area or stop blood clot formation. Stay away from heavy meat options or anything that requires you to chew forcefully. Instead, choose healthy liquids and soft foods.
Even though a liquid or partially liquid diet can help to ease discomfort and support healing, avoid straws. The sucking motion you use to drink from a straw could disturb the blood clot and increase the risk of bleeding.
If you're tempted to soothe your sore mouth with sugar-packed ice cream and cold soda, consider other post-extraction menu options. Your body needs help to heal right now - not empty calories from sweets, treats, and carbonated beverages. Stick to nutrient-rich soft foods and tap water or plain milk.
Care for Your Mouth Carefully
You will need to clean and care for your mouth after your pre-denture dental extraction. But this doesn't mean you should go overboard. Vigorous brushing and rinsing won't help your mouth to heal. Instead, these activities can dislodge clots or irritate the already-tender area.
To promote healing, gently rinse your mouth with warm water. The dentist may recommend that you use salt water to help with the discomfort.
Follow Up With the Dentist
Unlike other types of extractions, a pre-denture removal isn't the last step in this dental process. The extraction is necessary to remove any remaining teeth and help the dentist fit your soon-to-be new dentures securely into your mouth.
The time between the extraction and denture delivery varies. Talk to your dentist about the fabrication schedule before you order this device. Some patients prefer to use temporary dentures while they wait. If you don't feel comfortable with missing teeth, ask the dentist if this is a possibility. These dentures can help you to talk and chew and may protect your hums while you wait for the permanent device to come in. Short extraction-to-fabrication times may not require this option.
Temporary dentures are not custom fit to your mouth. This means they may not feel completely comfortable. Your permanent dentures will feel differently and may help you to talk and chew more easily than the temporary devices.
Do you need dentures to complete your smile? Contact
Affordable Denture Center for more information.
