In most cases, a tooth may need to be pulled when other, less radical procedures such as amalgams or restoration make it impossible or imprudent to save your original tooth.

Advanced anaesthetic techniques today greatly minimize discomfort associated with a tooth extraction. First, the area surrounding the tooth is numbed to lessen any discomfort. After the extraction, you are given a regimen to follow to ensure that no infection occurs and your gum tissues heal properly. In most cases, a small amount of bleeding is normal.

Avoid anything that might prevent normal healing. This includes smoking, rinsing your mouth vigorously, or drinking through a straw. The sucking action may promote swelling and opening of the extraction site. These activities could also dislodge the clot and delay healing.

For the first few days, if you must rinse, do it gently. For pain or swelling, apply a cold cloth or an ice bag. Ask your dentist about pain medication. You can brush and floss your other teeth as usual, but don’t clean the teeth next to the tooth socket.

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