The Void: Aftermath

Hello and welcome to another chapter of The Void, today I’m going to share you the aftermath of my tooth extraction.

bad_tooth.png~original

After the tooth extraction was complete, the staff gave me this rolled up cotton gauze for me so I can suppress the bleeding (and act less like zombie). They also gave me some painkillers and more cotton gauze, one is not enough you know. In that journey from Inanam to my workplace, I can’t stop drooling while the anaesthetic was still in effect, so I kept spitting out the excess blood.

I wondered what the do’s and don’t after a tooth extraction, the doctor didn’t gave any tips of advice whatsoever (bummer). The first thing when I finally seated on my desk was to search about tooth extraction post-procedure care. The next day, my breath became a bit stinky, but it smells much more better that the time I still got the bad tooth inside. Now that the numbness is gone and the bleeding getting lesser, slight pain and swelling now occurred at the place that once houses a tooth…

The result of my Google search yields these results, and I want to share with you, so that next time you can anticipate what is going to happen next. Do the following to ensure a smooth recovery after a tooth extraction,

  • Take heed of your doctor’s instructions after the procedure (in my case, I got none)
  • If swelling occurs, apply an ice pack to the area. (or just drink cold water).
  • DO NOT, I REPEAT! DO NOT dislodge the blood clot that forms in the gum where your tooth was, either using your tongue or finger. This can cause infections, if it still bleeds, supress it with the cotton gauze instead. Besides, the blood clot is the first process to fill up the holes in your gum and hasten the healing process.
  • Do not spit or rinse forcefully in the first 24 hours. (I just broke this rule when I got out from the dentist clinic)
  • Do not smoke.
  • Do not allow food particles to pack into the socket. (this one is kinda tricky, I have to eat sideways to actually avoid that)
  • Do not use drinking straws in the first 24 hours. (broke this one too :/)
  • Begin rinsing your mouth 24 hours after the procedure. Use a solution made of ½ teaspoon salt and 8 ounces warm water.
  • Eat a soft or liquid diet for the first 24 hours. (the first night, I ate bubur kodop. Then again this morning I ate mee goreng seafood.)
  • Avoid activity for the first 24 hours. For the next 1-2 days, limit your activity.
  • Continue to brush and floss other teeth. This will help prevent infection in the extraction site.
  • Avoid alcoholic beverages. (no beer, bummer)
  • Avoid eating hot and spicy food. (same goes to drinking, avoid the hot ones)

teeth

If one of this following occurs, please make a visit to the dentist again,

  • Signs of infection, including fever and chills
  • Redness, swelling, increasing pain, or any discharge from the open socket
  • Excessive bleeding continuing for more than four hours after surgery
  • Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
  • Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe nausea or vomiting
  • Any new symptom

dry_socket

One more thing you must take notice is Dry Socket. This is an infection in your gum after a tooth is extracted, it occurs when a blood clot fails to form in the socket (see, I told you not to touch the blood clot), or if the blood clot comes loose.

The blood clot, as I mentioned earlier, promotes healing, laying the foundation for the growth of new bone tissue. When dry socket strikes, this blood clot is lost and the socket appears empty leaving the nerves exposed, and sometimes the jaw bone became visible through the hole. The condition will manifest itself as severe pain that doesn’t subside (thats way hellish than the toothache itself). Ways to cure it? visit your dentist right away!

And before I end this chapter, I strongly advice you to do a dental check-up from time to time. You may still have a chance to save your teeth, with the loss of my second molar, I think chewing food will take more time than expected. Big thanks to aurorahealthcare.org and talewins.com for the dental care info above.

 

 

 

 

 

Now that the numbness is gone and the bleeding getting lesser, slight pain and swelling now occurred at the place that once houses a tooth…

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4 Responses

  1. ZeLL~LeaH says:

    idk y…but i somehow have the fascination to examine your tooth. haha~ xD

  2. Meitzeu says:

    OH MY GOD! That's a pain in ass.

  3. Aki says:

    whoa.. lengkap ni bos.. terbaik la ko.. he he he.. trus rasa kosong tu gusi kan?? he he he..

  4. Melissa Rhyme says:

    I experienced severe pain before, that is my reason I decided to became more careful about it. Now, I’m on my last year for my dentistry course.

    dentist

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