The night after an extraction, your mouth may be a bit tender from the procedure. Getting a good night rest can help ease these symptoms and speed up the healing process.
Tips for Sleeping Comfortably After a Tooth Extraction
Following these simple directions will help your extraction site heal quickly and with minimal discomfort.
Sleep with Your Head Elevated
For the first night after an extraction, we recommend sleeping on your back with your head slightly elevated.
Similar to other injuries in the body like a broken ankle or wrist, as long as you’re getting your head above your heart, you can use gravity to your advantage to move fluid along — helping you wake up feeling more comfortable than you did the night before.
Use Over-the-Counter Pain Medications
Because the discomfort from the procedure may make it hard to sleep, your dentist may recommend a variety of OTC medications to help you manage your pain, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen-based products.
Sticking to the prescribed schedule is really important on this first day, even if you’re feeling “okay”. The last thing you want as you’re lying down to sleep is to feel pain, and then have to wait 30 min to an hour for your painkillers to kick in.
Use Ice Packs to Reduce Swelling
Using ice packs or a cold compress near the affected site on an alternating basis every half hour (applied for 30 minutes, then resting for 30 minutes) can help reduce swelling and pain for the first day after your extractions. Cold also has the added bonus of lessening sensation, which can help reduce pain that isn’t addressed by reducing swelling.
Choose Soft Foods and Avoid Irritants
The foods you eat on the first day after extractions can also greatly impact your sleep. Eating very soft foods will avoid irritating your extraction site and causing additional pain and swelling. Ensure your food throughout the day is nutritionally dense and balanced so you don’t wake up craving a midnight snack!
Try eating a banana or some mashed sweet potato 30 min to an hour before bedtime to take advantage of their natural source of melatonin, which can help you fall asleep faster.
Brush Your Teeth Gently
Brushing your teeth before bed is always important, especially the first night after an extraction. The right oral care will make sure there aren’t any bits of food irritating your extraction site, but will also ensure you’re not dislodging the protective blood clot.
Follow your dentist’s instructions carefully. They might recommend a light saltwater rinse after each meal, or just before bed, to help promote healing and remove any irritants that could cause pain. You can gently brush your remaining teeth but do not brush the extraction site to avoid causing a dry socket.
Should I Sleep With the Gauze in My Mouth After My Extraction?
No! Remove the gauze from your mouth before bed. Sleeping with anything loose in your mouth, including gauze, is a choking hazard.
The gauze on your extraction site is to help stop the bleeding at the site and to promote the formation of a protective blood clot.
By the time you go to bed, a blood clot should have formed which will stop the bleeding and protect your site for the next few weeks of healing, so you don’t need to leave the gauze in while you sleep.
Save Money on Your Tooth Extractions with Affordable Dentures & Implants
While tooth extractions are not the most exciting part about going to the dentist, we strive to provide a comfortable and affordable experience every time. Ask your local office about our “Best Price Guarantee” that promises the lowest price of any service here at Affordable Dentures & Implants compared to all other competitors.
Schedule your free consultation today to get started toward your brand-new smile.