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If your child starts getting wisdom teeth, develops a cavity, or has an impacted tooth, they might need a tooth extraction. Getting your child’s tooth removed can sound intimidating, but the modern extraction procedure is simpler and more comfortable than ever.
Once your child gets their tooth or teeth extracted, recovery usually takes a few days. Experienced pediatric dentist Staci Brunell, DMD, of Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, explains what to expect during your child’s recovery and how to help it go smoothly.
After your child gets a tooth extraction, they might feel sore, sensitive, and swollen in the area where the extraction took place. They may also feel more tired than usual, especially on the first day after the extraction.
By following Dr. Brunell’s aftercare instructions, you can typically expect your child to feel significantly better and on their way to a full recovery after around 72 hours. Dr. Brunell creates personalized aftercare instructions for each child, but you can expect most plans to include these general guidelines for your child’s first week after the extraction.
After the extraction, pay attention to and ask how your child is feeling. You can help control pain with over-the-counter medication, ice packs, and NSAID medication (such as ibuprofen) that reduces swelling.
The first few days after an extraction, avoid planning activities that require exertion for your child, as they will be more tired than usual and need to recover from the procedure. Let them rest at home by lying down and getting extra sleep if needed.
For the first few days after the extraction, you’ll need to avoid putting pressure on your child’s socket to allow it to heal. This means avoiding brushing, rinsing, or chewing in this area.
You can help your child gently clean the rest of their teeth for the first few days while avoiding the socket.
Sometimes, our team prescribes antibiotics, pain relief, or other medication to help your child’s recovery. Make sure to take those as instructed by Dr. Brunell.
Your child needs to be careful to eat foods that as safe for the empty tooth socket and don’t cause pain. The best foods are soft foods, including:
Avoid any foods that are crunchy or hard. Your child should also avoid drinking through a straw the first few days, as this can disrupt the empty socket’s initial healing process.
It’s important your child attend their scheduled post-extraction appointment with our team. At this appointment, our team ensures your child is healing and recovering from the extraction as expected.
By focusing on your child’s recovery for the initial period after a tooth extraction, you can ensure they recover quickly and safely and get back to their usual routine in no time. For more information about getting a tooth extraction, contact us at 914-353-3426.
