Is It a Good Idea to Use Mouthwash After a Tooth Extraction?

Many teenagers and adults go to the dentist for a wisdom tooth removal. That’s because when wisdom teeth begin to erupt there is little or no space in the jaw for them to fit. A dentist can also recommend an extraction due to other reasons.

Let’s first look at what a tooth extraction is.

What Is a Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extraction is the process of detaching a tooth completely from its socket. Sometimes that procedure may be referred to as pulling a tooth.

Some reasons that can lead to a tooth extraction may include tooth infection, excessive tooth decay, severe gum disease, crowded teeth, and an impacted tooth.

A dentist, oral surgeon, or periodontist can perform a tooth extraction. At the dental office, they will administer general, local, or intravenous anesthesia to help you relax during the procedure.

What Happens During a Tooth Extraction

First, you are given local anesthesia to numb the surrounding gum tissue and the tooth. It helps to keep patients with anxiety calm. Next, the dentist uses special dental instruments to loosen the tooth and safely remove it from its socket.

It may be difficult to access the tooth if it’s impacted or badly decayed; hence the dentist will have to make incisions to the gum. After removing the tooth, the next thing to do is clean and disinfect the socket.

In certain situations, placing a dental bone graft helps to prevent jaw bone loss. Getting stitches helps to close up the wound and promotes healing. The patient is provided with a soft cotton padding to bite into to prevent bleeding.

Our Scottsdale dentist may prescribe antibiotics to some patients. After arriving home, you can take pain killers to help alleviate or numb the pain as the anesthesia starts to wear off.

If you need to get your tooth removed, you can call us at Mercado Dental Care to book an appointment, or you can visit our dental office.

After tooth removal, some individuals are usually curious whether they can carry on with normal oral hygiene practices, such as using a mouth rinse. So, let’s take a look.

What is Mouthwash, and Is It Safe to Use It After a Dental Extraction?

Mouthwash is a dental hygiene product that helps to eliminate food debris and bacteria that can lead to tooth decay. It contains antiseptics that help to clean the mouth. Mouth rinse is efficient when used together with daily brushing and flossing.

Even though mouthwashes are good at eliminating bacteria, it’s not safe to use them after dental extractions.

That’s because blood clot begins to form immediately over the extraction site. It is crucial as gums can bleed profusely because they have plenty of blood cells. Dislodging the blood clot by rinsing the affected part or brushing could cause the bleeding to start again.

Although it may take some time to recover fully, a dentist in Scottsdale, AZ, may recommend you avoid using mouth rinse for at least 48 hours after the procedure. After that, you should only rinse your mouth with a mixture of salt and warm water four times a day until you heal completely.

Most mouthwashes contain alcohol; if you use it before the extraction area heals completely, it could sting. That can cause the development of a dry socket, a common side effect of dental extractions.

If you feel like you need tooth removal, you can go to a dentist or orthodontist near you.

Let’s look at a few guidelines you can follow to recover quickly.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

After completion of the treatment, the dentist will issue you instructions to follow. Some of them may include:

Keep the affected area clean

Refrain from brushing directly above the extraction area until the dentist authorizes you to. Floss and brush the other areas as usual.

• Avoid any activities that are strenuous for at least 48 hours

An increased heart rate can cause discomfort and bleeding. So, for example, don’t go to the gym for the first two or three days.

• Take medications as instructed

The dentist may prescribe pain relievers and antibiotics, so taking the medications as directed is important.

• Avoid eating crunchy and hard foods

Try eating soft foods such as pasta, yogurt, rice, and eggs. You may also want to refrain from drinking with straws because they can dislodge clots causing dry sockets.