Hearing that your little one needs a tooth removed can be a little nerve-wracking. Normally, baby teeth fall out on their own. But when they stay stuck, or one of your child’s teeth becomes too damaged, extracting that tooth can be a relief. We know that it’s not easy for kids to go through the treatment and then deal with post-procedure pain too. So here are helpful guidelines to help your little one recover after a tooth extraction.
Keep the Gauze in Place
When the pediatric dentist pulls out your child’s tooth, they’ll immediately place a small gauze in their mouth, right over the extraction socket. It helps control bleeding.
Your child should keep biting down on that gauze for as long as the dentist says (about 30 to 60 minutes). You can replace the gauze with a new one if it gets really soaked.
Be Careful About the Numbness
Tooth extraction can be slightly painful, so dentists inject a local anesthetic to keep the treatment area numb. Once you’re done with the appointment, a part of your child’s mouth will remain numb for a couple of hours.
So, try not to give them anything to eat at this time. You don’t want your little one to bite on their tongue or cheek while eating.
Manage Pain with Medication
Your kid’s mouth will be a little sore for one to two days after the extraction. Your dentist may recommend an appropriate pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, based on your child’s age, weight, and medical needs. When your kid takes the medicine exactly as prescribed, they’ll feel more at ease during the healing period.
The good news? Children often recover faster than adults. Most children can gradually return to normal activities as they feel comfortable.
Stick to Soft Foods
For at least the first 24 hours after pediatric tooth extraction, your child should only eat soft and preferably cool foods. No munching on crunchy or hard snacks during this time.
Choose foods that your child can easily chew without much effort. Things like yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, and puddings are all good options.
Keep Them Engaged
After getting a tooth pulled out, children keep worrying about it or repeatedly poke at the extraction site. It can delay healing. Keep them engaged in some indoor fun activities like coloring or building blocks. This will keep their mind off any discomfort.
Just make sure they don’t engage in any intense physical activities for a day or two.
Practice Gentle Oral Hygiene
Your child should avoid brushing directly around the extraction site on the first day. Continue gentle brushing in other areas as recommended by your dentist. After the first 24 hours, guide them while brushing and make sure they avoid putting pressure on the area where the tooth was removed.
After 24 hours, older children may be advised to gently rinse with salt water if recommended by their dentist.
Ending Note
Children bounce back very quickly after dental procedures, including tooth extractions. All it takes is some extra care, especially in the first few days. If you have any concerns about your child’s teeth, speak to our pediatric dentist, Dr. Neil Dean, at KC Kids Dental today. Call us now!
