After your extraction, you’ll be able to see the socket left behind where that tooth once lived. As your body heals, a blood clot will form in that socket, protecting the exposed bone and nerves. After the 24-hour mark, rinse with a mixture of warm water and salt. Avoid straws, smoking, and aggressive oral healthcare routines until the extraction site has completely healed, which can take anywhere from one to two weeks. If you do use any of the above, you could develop a dry socket.

Dry socket is when the blood clot in the socket of your tooth gets dislodged, exposing the nerves and, therefore, causing discomfort. You can tell a dry socket by looking into the recesses of the cavity. If you see white bone, that’s often a tell-tale sign that the clot is no longer in place. To treat this, we recommend you come and see us right away.

You should wait until one day has passed after the extraction to resume brushing and flossing as normal. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and take extra care around the extraction area as it will be tender. If you find that you must clean your teeth before this time, try to use lukewarm water to gently dislodge any food or plaque that’s clinging to your teeth.