Post-Op Instructions: Tooth Extraction | Oral Surgeons of Indiana

Name: Oral Surgeons of Indiana
Address: 8240 Naab Road, Suite 355, Indianapolis, IN, 46260, US
Telephone: (317) 876-1095
Price range: $$$

At a glance

Bite firmly on gauze for 30–45 minutes; light bleeding is normal for the first 24 hours.
Swelling and stiffness peak on day 2, then steadily improve.
No straws, no spitting, no smoking for 5–7 days to prevent dry socket.
Most people feel close to normal within 3–5 days.

Recovery timeline

First 4 hours
What to expect: Pink saliva and oozing are normal. The numbing medication starts to wear off; bite blocks may feel awkward.
What to do: Bite firmly on gauze for 30–45 minutes at a time. Replace gauze when soaked. No rinsing, no spitting, no straws.
Hours 4–24
What to expect: Numbness fades and a dull ache sets in. Some patients feel mildly nauseated from sedation or pain medication.
What to do: Take ibuprofen on a schedule. Apply ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. Sip cool water and eat soft, cool foods.
Day 2
What to expect: Swelling becomes visible in your cheek or jaw near the extraction. Opening wide feels stiff.
What to do: Continue ice and ibuprofen. Start gentle warm salt-water rinses (1/4 tsp salt in 8 oz warm water) — let the water fall out, do not spit.
Day 3
What to expect: Swelling and tenderness usually peak. Mild bruising at the corner of the mouth or on the cheek is harmless.
What to do: Switch from ice to warm, moist compresses. Keep up with rinses 4–5 times a day. Walk around to stay loose.
Days 4–7
What to expect: Swelling fades. Most people return to school or desk work and feel mostly back to normal.
What to do: Expand your diet to soft pasta, eggs, fish, well-cooked vegetables. Brush gently around the socket; let rinses clean the site.
Weeks 2–6
What to expect: Stitches dissolve. The socket gradually fills in with new tissue and bone over the following months.
What to do: Return to normal brushing and flossing. Call us if any spot feels swollen, hot, or develops new pain.

Do & don't

Do

Bite firmly on gauze for 30–45 minutes after surgery.
Take ibuprofen on a schedule for the first 48 hours.
Use ice packs (20 min on, 20 min off) for the first 24–48 hours.
Keep your head elevated on two pillows when resting.
Start warm salt-water rinses on day 2.
Eat soft, cool foods and chew on the opposite side.

Don't

No drinking through a straw for 5–7 days.
No spitting forcefully or rinsing aggressively for the first 24 hours.
No smoking, vaping, or any tobacco for at least 5–7 days.
No alcohol while taking pain medication or for the first 48 hours.
No probing the socket with your tongue, finger, or toothpick.
No strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for 3–5 days.

What to eat & what to avoid

Eat

Cool yogurt, applesauce, pudding
Smoothies eaten with a spoon (no straws)
Lukewarm broth or well-blended soup
Mashed potatoes, soft scrambled eggs
Soft oatmeal, soft pasta, soft rice (after a few days)
Soft fish or well-cooked vegetables once you feel ready

Avoid

Hot drinks and hot soups for the first 24 hours
Crunchy foods: chips, popcorn, nuts, raw vegetables
Sticky candy, gum, caramel
Spicy foods that can sting an open socket
Carbonated drinks and alcohol for at least 48 hours
Seeds, granola, and small grains in the first week

Medications

Ibuprofen
600 mg every 6 hours with food, on a schedule, for the first 48–72 hours unless your surgeon told you otherwise. Stay ahead of the pain.
Acetaminophen
1,000 mg every 6 hours can be alternated with ibuprofen for stronger pain control. Do not exceed 3,000 mg per day from all sources.
Anything else as prescribed by your surgeon
If you were given an antibiotic or short course of stronger pain medication, follow that label exactly. Take antibiotics until they are gone.

These are general guidelines. Always follow the specific instructions your surgeon gave you. If you are unsure about any dose, call our office.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I have a dry socket?

Dry socket usually shows up 3–5 days after surgery as a sudden, throbbing pain that radiates from the socket toward the ear, often with a bad taste. The pain is not relieved well by ibuprofen. Call us — we can pack the socket with a soothing dressing the same day.

I am still bleeding hours later. What do I do?

Replace the gauze with a fresh, damp pad and bite firmly for a full 45 minutes — no peeking. If it is still soaking through, try biting on a moist tea bag for 30 minutes. If you are still soaking gauze every 30 minutes, call us.

Can I rinse my mouth out tonight?

No — vigorous rinsing or spitting can pull the clot out of the socket. Starting tomorrow morning, you can start gentle warm salt-water rinses. Let the water fall out of your mouth instead of spitting.

When can I go back to work?

Most desk workers go back the next day or after 1–2 days off. If your job is physical, plan on 3–5 days off. Listen to your body.

I see a hole where the tooth was. Should I be worried?

No — that is the socket, and it is supposed to be there. Over the next few weeks the gum will close over it, and over the next few months bone will fill it in. Do not poke at it.

When can I exercise again?

Take it easy for 3–5 days. Light walking is fine. Avoid running, weightlifting, and anything that raises your heart rate, since increased blood pressure can restart bleeding or dislodge the clot.

Still worried? Call us — we are here.

Our on-call surgeon answers calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for our patients. If anything feels off — bleeding, pain, swelling — please pick up the phone.

Call (317) 876-1095

After hours, your call is routed to the on-call surgeon — a real doctor from our practice, not an answering service.