How to bring down swelling in face from tooth extraction

May 13, 2016

How to bring down swelling in face from tooth extraction
A certain amount of swelling is normal following your oral surgery in Houston, but you can help reduce inflammation and discomfort for an easier, more comfortable recovery overall. We here at Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery have five tips to help you keep swelling to a minimum following your upcoming oral surgery!

#1: Ice Packs / Cold Compresses

The number one way to reduce swelling following any type of surgery or trauma is to apply an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area. This type of “cold therapy” works by slowing down the amount of blood flow that rushes to the injured area, reducing inflammation and discomfort. During the first 36 hours following your oral surgery, apply cold to the outside treatment area in 10-minute intervals: 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off.

#2: Elevate the Head

You should have blocked off lots of time for rest and relaxation following your oral surgery. While you’re dozing during this vital recovery phase, keep your head elevated with an extra pillow (or two) to help further reduce swelling. Maintaining this position will aid in proper blood flow.

#3: Limit Your Activity

We know it can be hard to take a break from your busy life — attention to work, family and other obligations may feel more important than proper healing following your oral surgery. But we want to remind you there’s nothing more vital than your own health, and that’s why you should allow yourself all the time necessary to fully heal following your procedure. Undergoing physically demanding labor or exertion in the first few weeks after your oral surgery can worsen or slow the healing of bruising and swelling.

#4: Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water throughout your post-surgery recovery is important for flushing the system to keep your body healthy and reduce facial swelling. If drinking water is difficult in the first hours after your procedure, sucking on ice chips is a good way to stay hydrated.

#5: Don’t Smoke

It’s so important that you don’t smoke (or use tobacco in any form) throughout the recovery phase following your oral surgery. Tobacco dramatically slows proper healing, increasing swelling, bruising as well as damaging your oral and overall health. The habit may also increase your risk of complications following your surgery. Please wait at least a few weeks to use tobacco.

Questions? Get In Touch With Us Today!

If you’ve got questions regarding swelling or your upcoming Houston oral surgery, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us! We’re always happy to discuss your oral health to help you enjoy strong, healthy teeth, gums and jaw. Contact Piney Point OMS today!

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How to bring down swelling in face from tooth extraction

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How to bring down swelling in face from tooth extraction
Most people get their third and final set of molars, also known as wisdom teeth, in their teens or early twenties. These teeth can be great when they’re healthy and properly aligned, but they’re often misaligned or they only partially break through the gums. And that’s when your dentist or oral surgeon steps in to remove them.

The speed of your recovery after surgery depends on how difficult it was to extract the teeth. Was it a simple extraction or was the tooth impacted into the jawbone? Either way, because of the surgical trauma, there will be post-operative tissue swelling. How severe it will be again depends on the ease of the extraction.

Reducing the swelling: the first 24 hours you need cold

The aim here is to minimize the total amount of swelling. To do this, you need to apply cold packs to the outside of your face where the extraction was. You can start doing this pretty much as soon as the surgery is done.

  1. Fill a surgical glove with ice, or use a cold pack bought from your pharmacy. A frozen bag of peas works really well too. Whatever the source of the cold, wrap it in a dishtowel.
  2. Hold it firmly against the outside of your face for 15 minutes. Then leave it off for 15 minutes, and so on. Repeat for the first 18 to 24 hours after the surgery.
  3. How it works: the cold causes the blood vessels in the area to constrict, thereby reducing the total volume of fluids that can be transported around the tissue and therefore reducing the amount of swelling.

NB: Remember you’ll still be feeling numb from the anesthetic, so don’t fall asleep with the ice pack pressed to your cheek.

Reducing the swelling: after 48-72 hours you need heat

You’re unlikely to completely prevent swelling with the cold compress described above, but you can help bring it down more quickly – this time using warm compresses. Swelling is generally considered to reach its peak 48-72 hours after surgery and that’s when you start the process, not before. Check with your dentist what they recommend.

  1. Buy a heat pack from the pharmacy, or use a hot water bottle or wet towel. But take care: you want to warm the swollen area, not burn it. Minimize irritation to your skin by wrapping your heat source in a moistened dishtowel.
  2. Hold the heat compress against the swelling. Leave it in place for 20 minutes; leave it off for the next 20. Repeat.
  3. How it works: the heat causes the blood vessels to dilate, which enables them to carry away the fluids that caused the swelling more efficiently.

NB: If your swelling hasn’t subsided by day four, report this to your dentist. While complications are rare, they are possible, so call your dentist right away if you notice any pus discharge or severe pain, or you develop a fever.

Top tip

Keep your head elevated – even when sleeping – to further help reduce swelling.

img c/o pixabay

How much facial swelling is normal after tooth extraction?

After a tooth is extracted you may experience some swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes and sides of the face. This is the body's normal and healthy reaction to surgery. Most swelling will not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until 48 to 72 hours post-operatively.

What helps with facial swelling after dental surgery?

The best way to treat facial swelling following dental work is cold therapy. Cold therapy is when you apply something cold, such as an ice pack or bag of frozen peas, to the swollen area for a short period of time.

What is the fastest way to heal swollen gums after tooth extraction?

6 Tips for Faster Recovery After a Tooth Extraction.
Rest. It is crucial to get adequate rest after your tooth extraction. ... .
Eat a Soft Food Diet. ... .
Avoid Using a Straw or Smoking. ... .
Cold Therapy. ... .
Use Over-the-Counter Medications. ... .
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene..

How do you reduce swelling after tooth extraction?

You can get rid of swelling after tooth extraction by applying an ice pack to the outside of the surgical site. Sit in an upright position and keep your head above the heart. When you plan to lay down or sleep, use extra pillows to keep your head elevated. This can help minimize the swelling.