Eusebio Dental
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA
Tooth Extraction
Your Recovery Companion
What to Do Today
• Bite firmly on gauze for 30–60 minutes.
• If bleeding continues, bite on a damp black tea bag for 30 minutes.
• Use ice: 20 minutes on, then 20 minutes off.
• Eat soft, cool foods. Drink from a cup.
• Rest today. Keep your head raised when lying down.
• Do not rinse, spit hard, use a straw, smoke, vape, or lift heavy things.
What to Expect Next
Tomorrow
• Brush your teeth. Be gentle near the extraction.
• Rinse gently with warm salt water after meals and before bed.
• Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water.
• Keep eating soft foods if chewing is sore.
Days 2-3
• Swelling is often worst on Day 2 or 3. This can be normal.
• Keep using pain medicine if needed.
• After 48 hours, a warm compress may help jaw soreness.
• Keep rinsing gently with warm salt water.
Days 4-7
• Pain and swelling should start to improve.
• Add normal foods slowly.
• Keep the area clean, but do not poke the socket.
• Call us if pain gets worse instead of better.
Later Healing
• The hole closes slowly over several weeks.
• The bone under the gum may take several months to fill in.
• Keep all follow-up visits.
Pain Medicine
Adult doses only. Use these medicines only if they are safe for you.
• Mild or moderate pain: Take ONE — ibuprofen up to 600 mg OR acetaminophen up to 1,000 mg.
• More pain: Take BOTH together.
• Wait at least 6 hours before the next dose. Do not take more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
• Do not take more than 2,400 mg of ibuprofen or 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours.
• Check all medicine labels for acetaminophen. Ask us, your doctor, or a pharmacist if you are not sure.
• Do not take either medicine if a doctor has told you to avoid it.
Normal Healing
• A small amount of bleeding or pink saliva
• Swelling for 2–3 days
• Mild bruising
• Jaw soreness or stiffness
• A mild bad taste
• A white or yellow-looking layer over the socket
• Slow improvement each day
Call Eusebio Dental
Call or text Eusebio Dental for:
• Bleeding that does not slow after firm pressure
• Pain that gets worse after Day 3
• Fever over 101°F (38.3°C)
• Pus, a strong bad smell, or swelling that keeps getting worse
• Numbness that lasts more than 24 hours
• Any problem that worries you
Emergency -
Call 911
Call 911 now for:
• Trouble breathing
• Severe swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow
• Bleeding you cannot control
You Might Be Wondering
Why does my saliva look so bloody?
A little blood can make saliva look like a lot.
Can I brush?
Yes. Brush every tooth. Be gentle near the socket.
When can I eat normally?
Start with soft foods. Add other foods slowly as you feel better.
Why is the hole still there?
The gum and bone heal slowly. The hole may be present for several weeks.
What is dry socket?
Dry socket is strong pain that often starts 2–5 days after a tooth is removed. Call us if pain gets worse or moves toward your ear.
Helpful Tips
Why This Matters
• Take pain medicine before the numbness wears off.
• Keep extra gauze nearby.
• Sleep with one extra pillow tonight.
• Do not keep pulling your cheek to look at the area.
• Smoothies are fine, but do not use a straw.
• Ice cream is fine, but skip crunchy cones.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Gauze and pressure help form a blood clot.
• The blood clot is your body's natural bandage.
• Ice lowers swelling.
• Soft foods protect the area.
• No smoking, vaping, or straws helps prevent dry socket.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Joseph Eusebio, DMD, MBA
Last Reviewed:
July 2026
Sources:
https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/oral-analgesics-for-acute-dental-pain | https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22120-tooth-extraction | https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/uploads/about/docs/our_publications/patient_information_leaflets/surgery/dental-extractions-aftercare.pdf
Tooth Extraction