Notes for patients following tooth extractions

1. Avoid rinsing, violent exercise, alcohol and smoking for 24 hours after the tooth extraction.
2. For heavy bleeding, sit down and place a clean handkerchief or tissue over the socket and bite down for fifteen minutes.
3. The day after extraction, rinse every few hours with warm salt mouthwashes (one teaspoon of salt in a mug of warm water).
4. Use your usual pain killers to relieve pain if necessary.
5. If you have any problems, please contact the surgery. If it is not within surgery hours please leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible.
6. The out of hours emergency telephone number is Teesdale 01833 631140.

 Cleaning your teeth

It is very important that you keep up a good cleaning routine at home to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

• Brush your teeth twice a day (morning and night) with fluoride toothpaste, using a small headed medium bristled brush. (Children under 7 should use pea sized blob of children's toothpaste and should always be supervised).
• Cleaning in between your teeth is very important too. This can be done using floss, flossettes, interdental brushes (bottle brushes) or battery/electrically operated cleaning aids.
• Using a mouthwash can help to freshen the breath and help fight decay and gum disease.
• Chewing sugar free chewing gum after meals for around 20 minutes helps to reduce decay by stimulating saliva flow.