Tooth extraction aftercare checklist
Reviewed by: Dr Lauras Smilgevičius, dentist
Tooth extraction is a surgical procedure, and smooth healing starts with what you do once you get home. This checklist is short, practical and detailed enough to print, keep on the fridge and follow point by point. If you want to understand why each instruction matters, read our full guide What to do after tooth extraction.
Protect the clot: the key rule in one sentence
During the first 24 hours, protect the blood clot that forms inside the socket. It is your natural dressing. Without it, a painful complication called dry socket, or alveolitis, can develop.
Follow this checklist point by point
Keep the gauze pad in place for 30 to 45 minutes. Bite firmly. If bleeding continues, place a clean pad over the socket and hold pressure for another 30 minutes.
Do not eat for at least 2 hours. Wait until the anaesthetic has completely worn off, otherwise you may bite your cheek or tongue without noticing.
Chew on the other side. For the first week, chew on the opposite side from the extraction site.
Do not touch the wound. Not with your tongue, fingers or a toothpick. Let the clot stay undisturbed.
Do not rinse your mouth during the first day. No forceful water, not even plain water. Do not spit either, as spitting creates suction that can pull out the clot.
From the second day, rinse very gently. Use a lukewarm salt solution, 1 teaspoon of salt in half a glass of water, after each meal, or use chlorhexidine if your dentist has prescribed it.
Do not drink through a straw. Avoid straws for at least a week. The suction movement is one of the most common causes of dry socket.
On the first day, choose soft, lukewarm food. Yoghurt, cottage cheese, porridge, omelette, bananas and avocado are good options. Avoid hard, crunchy, spicy, very hot and very acidic foods.
Do not smoke for at least 72 hours, and ideally for a full week. Smokers develop dry socket roughly three times more often. Nicotine reduces blood flow, and inhaling can disturb the clot.
Avoid alcohol for 24 to 72 hours. Alcohol thins the blood, encourages bleeding and does not mix well with pain relief.
Do not exercise or lift heavy objects for 2 to 3 days. Raised blood pressure can restart bleeding.
Avoid hot environments. Stay away from hot baths, saunas, steam rooms and solariums for at least 3 to 5 days.
Use a cold compress from the outside. During the first few hours, hold a cold compress on the cheek for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, with 15-minute breaks. This helps reduce swelling.
Sleep with your head raised. An extra pillow on the first night helps reduce bleeding and swelling.
Control pain properly. Take medicines as recommended by your dentist, such as ibuprofen 400 mg, if suitable for you, sometimes with paracetamol 500 mg every 6 hours, or another prescribed medicine such as nimesulide. Do not wait until pain becomes severe. Avoid aspirin, as it thins the blood.
If bleeding starts again. If bleeding restarts or suddenly becomes stronger after 4 to 8 hours, place a clean gauze pad over the wound and bite on it firmly for 1 hour.
Brush your teeth. On the same day, gently brush the other teeth with a soft toothbrush, avoiding the wound. From the second day, you can clean carefully around the wound, but avoid direct contact.
Finish any prescribed medicines. If your dentist prescribed antibiotics or other medicines, complete the full course even if you already feel better.
Check the healing timeline
| Time | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 0 to 24 hours | The clot forms. Light bleeding and some swelling are possible. |
| 24 to 72 hours | Swelling is usually greatest on days 2 to 3, then starts to settle. Pain gradually reduces. |
| 3 to 7 days | The wound surface contracts and pain is almost gone. |
| 1 to 2 weeks | The gum closes after a simple extraction. You can usually return to normal physical activity. |
| 2 to 4 weeks | After wisdom tooth extraction, surface healing often completes during this period. |
| 3 to 6 months | The bone fully remodels the socket. The site may be ready for an implant if needed. |
Call your dentist if warning signs appear
Do not delay if you notice any of these signs: severe pain that cannot be controlled on days 2 to 5 after the procedure and spreads to the ear, temple or neck; a sudden deterioration in how you feel; a temperature above 38 °C lasting more than a day; swelling that increases after day 3; pus, a bitter taste or an unpleasant smell from the mouth; a pale socket with no dark clot; bleeding that does not stop even after biting on a clean pad for a full hour; difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth. These signs can suggest dry socket or infection, and both are usually simple to treat if you come in promptly.
Watch for dry socket symptoms
Dry socket, medically called alveolitis, is the most common complication after tooth extraction. It happens when the blood clot leaves the socket too early, exposing bone and nerve endings and causing significant pain. Statistically, it occurs after around 2 to 5 per cent of simple extractions and up to 30 per cent of lower wisdom tooth removals. The main sign is strong pain starting on days 2 to 5 and spreading to the ear or temple, often with an unpleasant smell from the mouth. Treatment is straightforward: the dentist cleans the socket and places a soothing dressing, and relief is often felt almost immediately.
Follow this first-day schedule by the hour
0 to 1 hour: bite on the gauze pad, rest, and apply a cold compress from the outside.
1 to 2 hours: the gauze has been removed, you rest with your head raised, and you do not eat, drink or rinse.
2 to 6 hours: once the anaesthetic has worn off, you can drink water from a glass, not through a straw, and eat soft, lukewarm food.
6 to 12 hours: continue cold compresses and take pain relief as instructed.
12 to 24 hours: sleep with your head raised. No smoking, alcohol, sport or hot drinks.
“Most complications after tooth extraction come from one of three things: a straw, a cigarette or rinsing on the first day. Protect the clot and 95 per cent of the work is already done.” - Dr Lauras Smilgevičius.
Eat safely after tooth extraction
You can have: yoghurt, cottage cheese, kefir, oat or semolina porridge, mashed potato, omelette, soft-boiled egg, lukewarm blended soup, soft minced meat or fish, bananas, apple puree and avocado.
Avoid for several days: hard and crunchy foods such as nuts, crisps and bread crusts; sticky sweets such as lollipops, boiled sweets and toffees; spicy seasoning; acidic drinks such as lemon or tomato juice; fizzy drinks; very hot food and drinks.
Keep oral hygiene gentle after extraction
Oral hygiene is not forbidden, but it must be gentle. On the first day, brush the other teeth with a soft toothbrush, avoiding the wound. From the second day, after each meal, gently rinse with a lukewarm salt solution or the chlorhexidine mouthwash recommended by your dentist. Rinse softly, without force: let the liquid fall out of your mouth by itself, do not spit. Do not use alcohol-based mouthwash, as it irritates the wound. Continue your regular oral hygiene routine, but be careful around the healing area.
Call us if you forget something or feel unsure
Five minutes on the phone with the clinic is better than two nights with uncertain pain. If you have questions about pain, bleeding, swelling, or you simply do not feel quite right, call us. Our contact details are available on our contact page. We will answer clearly and without rushing.
Our clinic is in Klaipėda, in the pine forest by the sea. We believe recovery after a procedure should feel like a quiet weekend in the forest: gentle, calm and without noise. Your smile is your calling card.
You can find a fuller explanation of healing, food, medicines and common questions in our article What to do after tooth extraction.
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