Losing baby teeth can be a fun rite of passage for kids. Having teeth extracted . . . is much less enjoyable, although sometimes necessary. For whatever reason, if your child needs to have teeth extracted, the healing process can require time and patience. What will your kid need throughout this recovery time after children’s tooth extraction? Read on to find out!
Blood Clot
The body naturally provides a safe way to heal. To protect the exposed nerves and tissues, a blood clot forms over the site, keeping out bacteria and other harmful things. Keep clean gauze to absorb flowing blood for a few hours, but allow a blood clot to stay in place. If it is displaced, your child could get an infection called dry socket, which is very painful.
Pain Relief
Unfortunately, tooth extraction is minor surgery. As a result, your child will likely experience at least a couple of days of discomfort. Usually the pain can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. A cold compress on the face can also numb your child and also reduce any swelling.
Rest, Rest, Rest
For kids who are normally active or participate in sports, it may be difficult to take it easy for a while. However, your child needs to rest following a tooth extraction and allow their body to heal for at least a couple of days. They should refrain from strenuous activity and either sit or lie down, especially within the first 24 hours.
While some kids bounce back fairly quickly from surgical procedures within a couple of days, others will require more time or need to build back up to normal activities more slowly. Encourage them to listen to their body and not push themselves too hard as they recover.
Soft Food Diet
Your child’s gums will be vulnerable and sensitive after the extraction, so it’s important to stay away from hard, chewy, crunchy foods altogether. For the first 48 hours, straws are not permissible because the sucking action can remove the blood clot. Instead, give your child plenty of fluids.
After a day, you can introduce soft foods, such as oatmeal, eggs, yogurt, cooked vegetables, applesauce, and ice cream. You’ll want to continue with soft foods for several days and slowly transition back to a normal diet, careful not to disturb the blood clot.
In the end, tooth extraction may not be “fun,” but when you give your child what they need, it doesn’t have to be unpleasant. By following your pediatric dentist’s instructions and meeting your child’s needs, you can make the healing process go as smoothly as possible.
About the Practice
Sprout Dentistry for Kids of McKinney is honored to have two board-certified pediatric dentists on our team. Dr. Justin Chan has been practicing for 10 years so far and has hospital credentials at Children’s Medical Center and Cook Children’s Medical Center. While studying for his dental degree, Dr. Sage Yoo won many awards and scholarships and has since become a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. If you have questions about aftercare following a tooth extraction, you may contact the office at 469-813-7127 or reach out to us online.