There are a lot of people in the United States who have problems with their teeth. Prosthodontists report that there are at least 35 million Americans walking around without any teeth at all on the top or bottom of their mouth. For others, the idea of having to go through a tooth removal procedure is too scary to think about. The good news is that you do not have to fear this tooth removal procedure. Dental implants are also effective for tooth replacement. With today’s technology, they are about 98% successful.

Prepare yourself before you go in for your tooth removal procedure. Here are some things you must do before you go in for tooth removal surgery:

Get x-rays taken of the area of your mouth that has the problem. The x-rays will show information about the following:

The situation with the tooth and the sinuses, if the tooth is on the upper jaw.

How the tooth to be removed is impacting the teeth around it.

If it is a lower tooth, its proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve.

Give your oral surgeon your complete medical history.

Make sure the oral surgeon has all the information on all the medications (prescription and over the counter) and the supplements you take.

Stay on your game in terms of your oral hygiene before you have a tooth removal procedure done. Before you go in, you should keep everything clean. The night after your surgery, you should be careful when brushing your teeth. Do not brush the site of the tooth that as removed. Warm salt water rinses are recommended 24 hours after surgery.

Take antibiotics if you were given them. This will prevent the area from becoming infected.  Some problems that could occur after tooth extraction are swelling, pain, fever, or pus drainage. Antibiotics can prevent or alleviate any and all of these.

Do not smoke. It is crucial that you do not smoke after a tooth extraction procedure. Cigarettes are loaded with more than five thousand chemicals. It is recommended you abstain from smoking for at least seven days after the tooth has been pulled.   Smoking also increases your risks for infection and dry socket

Cold compresses are good for swelling. You should keep them on your face for 15 minutes but put 20 minutes between sessions with the compress.  24 hours after surgery you can also use a moist warm compress. This can be helpful if you had an infection before the extraction was performed.

If you have bleeding after your extraction, you can put gauze on the area. You can also use a wet tea bag for about 30 minutes. Tea contains tannic acid, which can cause the blood vessels that are bleeding to contract.

Be careful right after your tooth extraction procedure. For a few days after the tooth has been extracted take it easy and do not work out. This is minor surgery, but you need to take it easy because it is surgery. You should also not smoke or spit for a week.

Watch what you eat. Dentists and oral surgeons say that it is best to drink only drink liquids that are lukewarm or cold for the first 24 hours. You need to stay hydrated after this procedure. Some foods that work well for you after this surgery are eggs, cooked cereal, and mashed potatoes. You can liquefy meats and vegetables or fruits to make them easier to eat.

A lot of people around the United States and the globe are afraid to go to the dentist. Talk to your oral surgeon and they will work with you.