“Your child needs a tooth extraction,” may not be what you expect a pediatric dentist to say during your child’s dental appointment, but the reality is that this kind of procedure happens more often than you might realize. Whether it is because a baby tooth is refusing to fall out on its own, serious facial trauma, or severe dental decay, removing your child’s tooth may be the most beneficial way to secure their oral health as they grow older, but what will recovery be like? Is there anything you can do as the parent to help them heal quickly? Actually, there is.
What Should Your Child Avoid in the Days Following Surgery?
Depending on your child’s age, it may or may not be difficult to keep them from doing certain things after their procedure. Some kids are intrigued by the extraction site and want to touch it, but this is strongly discouraged, as it can cause the blood clot to dislodge, resulting in a dry socket, which can cause much discomfort and slow the healing process.
Other things they will need to avoid include:
- Using a straw when drinking a beverage. The suction required can be enough to cause a dry socket.
- Spitting or vigorous rinsing both of which can also result in a dry socket.
- Eating hard, crunchy, hot, spicy, or acidic foods too early, as this can irritate and damage the extraction site.
Although possible complications can occur, such as excessive bleeding, dry socket, inflammation, and trouble opening and closing their mouth, the chances of any of these developing remain rare. This is especially true if you are following the aftercare instructions provided by your child’s pediatric dentist.
What Should Your Child Do Immediately Following Tooth Extraction?
After bringing your child home from the dentist’s office, there are several steps you’ll need to take to make sure they remain comfortable, pain-free, and safe, such as:
- Keeping a clean gauze on the extraction site and having your child bite down for 30 minutes to encourage the bleeding to stop. A blood clot needs to form to protect the socket from harmful bacteria and debris.
- Applying a cold compress to the outside of your child’s cheek (on the side of the extraction site) to temporarily numb any pain and reduce swelling. You should follow the 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off rule.
- Helping them get plenty of rest, as too much exertion can cause additional bleeding. It can also lead to a blood clot dislodging.
- Providing them with prescription or over-the-counter pain medications, which should be delivered as instructed.
- Offering your child soft foods to eat and lukewarm or cold drinks. Yogurt, ice cream, and water are good options.
- Helping them practice good oral hygiene after the first 24 hours. You’ll need to make sure they’re brushing their teeth and flossing normally yet gently to avoid irritating the extraction site. They should rinse with warm salt water, but not spit. Instead, the liquid should fall out of their mouth.
Post-extraction recovery can be a swift and successful process if you help your child abide by the guidelines set out by our team at Smiles University Pediatric Dentistry. Before long, they will be playing with their friends and enjoying a pain-free smile once again.
About the Author
As a board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Adam Goodwin earned his dental degree from Georgia Health Sciences University before completing a two-year pediatric specialty training. Alongside his colleagues, Dr. Danna Radcliff and Dr. James Adjan, the three provide detailed aftercare instructions when a patient requires complex or invasive treatment, such as a tooth extraction. If your little one is preparing to have a tooth removed and you want to make sure they recover well, visit our website or call (512) 400-3280 to speak to a member of our team.