As a kid I spent most of my vacation time with my dentist. I loved the old bloke, he told me stories and kept me smiling and I grew up to have a beautiful smile. But I learnt many valuable lessons at the same time. I have had my fair share of tooth extractions and hence I feel equipped to be able to share this information with you.

If you are about to have an extraction then chances are high that you are nervous. Well, you need not be. The inevitable is going to happen and there is absolutely nothing that you can do it now. If there was something that you could have done to save your tooth you would have been informed about it. Before you go in for your extraction make sure that you have a meal; you are not going to be able to eat for a day or two after the procedure.

After the dentist has done the needful you need to take care of yourself. If you have a person to accompany you to the dentist then you must take the help. It would be best not to drive in your condition. Once your tooth has been extracted you will be in some sort of pain. You must ensure that you do not try to get up immediately. This will cause excess bleeding. You need to rest for a few minutes; until a blood clot forms. This will control the amount of blood you loose.

If the tooth has been extracted surgically then you will have stitches in your mouth. This must be taken care of. Wash your mouth 7 to 8 times a day with warm water and salt. The blend will help to get rid of any germs and bacteria that thrive in the area.

You can also keep the swelling in control by using an ice pack on the area. This will keep the swelling down and also control the amount of blood that is lost. You must also take the prescription drugs that you dentist gives you. These minimize the pain in the after math and also keep the wounds bacteria free. If the swelling lasts more than 2 days then it is a sign of a dental swelling or infection; you need to alert your dentist about it.

Avoid eating foods that are hot or spicy for 7 to 10n days post the extraction. You must also prevent eating hard or crunchy foods.