It is common for an extraction site to continue oozing blood for the first 24 hours. You are recommended to apply pressure over the site with a bite pack/ clean cotton cloth or rolled hankie and bite hard for 20min.

Do not rinse or spit out for 24 Hours- as rinsing and spitting can wash away blood clots and lead to further bleeding which can delay healing.

Be careful, not to burn or bite your lips/cheeks due to the anaesthesia, it can take up to 2-3 hours before the anaesthesia wears off-  it is recommended you eat/drink once the numbness has worn off.

It is sometimes good to take pain relief before the anaesthesia has worn off. Any type of painkiller such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen can be taken…however you should check your suitability for any drugs. Avoid taking aspirin based painkillers as this can encourage bleeding.

Avoid smoking as smoking can increase the risk of infection and delays healing.

Avoid alcohol and strenuous exercise as both can lead to bleeding and delayed healing.

Mouthwash (corsodyl/retardex) and brushing the following day should be carried out as normal however hot salt water mouthwashes (1 cup : 1 teaspoon of salt) can be used in addition after every meal to help encourage the extraction site to remain clean.

Should an extraction site increase in pain after 2-3 days, this may indicate a dry socket and you should make an appointment to see your dentist by calling the practice on 01474 537191.

Without being too technical teeth are made from dentine and have a protective enamel around the tooth to stop it from being decayed.

However when, soft drinks mix with the natural bacteria in the mouth it forms a type of acid, which overtime brakes down the enamel allowing the tooth to become decayed and sensitive.

As a dentist it is very easy to recommend patients that they should avoid soft drinks and drink water instead, but in reality it can be very difficult to resist the temptation of drinking soft drinks, so therefore I recommend a few easy tips to help minimize soft drink- related damage to teeth.

Use a straw when drinking soft drinks as it may help reduce the contact between your teeth and the beverage.

Don’t brush your teeth straight after drinking your soft drink as the enamel is weaker due to the acid from the drink.

Don’t sip a soft drink over a long period of time as you are at risk of increasing the exposure to acid and the risk of damage leading to tooth decay. So for example if you have a can of soft drink, don’t take a sip an hour as your constantly exposing your teeth to the acid, drink the drink in one sitting.

Parents and guardians are advised that babies and toddlers should not be given soft drinks or even the sugar free kind in a bottle as children have a tendency to keep the bottle in one place in the mouth (front of the mouth) and even though they may not have any/all their teeth, they are at great risk of having tooth decay. The forming teeth can become rotten becoming blackened and loose as they grow.

It is very important that you see a dentist regularly so that they can help maintain the health of your mouth and teeth.