Tooth Removal Pre-Operative Instructions

What You Should Do Before Your Tooth Extraction Surgery

Dentists try to save teeth whenever possible. However, there are many situations where tooth removal is required. It is important to follow these pre-operative instructions to ensure a successful surgery.

Food

• After tooth removal surgery, you will be asked to go on a soft food diet, such as scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, smoothies, yoghurt, soft rice, porridge, or congee. It is a good idea to have some soft meals planned in advance of your tooth extraction surgery.
• Eat breakfast and lunch as you normally would on the day of your tooth removal procedure, unless you will be taking any sedation medications (Please see the section below on Sedative Drugs). 
• Avoid eating on the affected tooth.

Antibiotics

• Your dentist may give you a prescription of antibiotics in advance of your tooth extraction appointment. Take the antibiotic as prescribed. This is to fight any bacterial infection in the area.

Medications

• Take all your normal medications as directed that you normally would, unless otherwise advised by your doctor or dentist. If there have been any recent changes in your medications or health status, please inform your dentist.
• If you are on blood thinner medication such as Coumadin (Warfarin), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), or Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), your dentist may ask you to reduce or stop taking it for a short period of time.

Pain Control

• If you are feeling pain, or would like to have some medication on hand before dental surgery, you may easily purchase over-the-counter pain medication at your local pharmacy or online.
• You are also welcome to use over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Ask your dentist what dosage is right for you, but if you do not have a pre-existing medical condition of allergies, 1000mg acetaminophen (Tylenol) with 600mg ibuprofen (Advil) every 4-6 hours or as needed is a very powerful combination.

Sedative Drugs

• If you will require dental sedation such as oral conscious sedation during your visit, please consult our pre-visit instructions on sedation dentistry.

Entertainment During Your Visit

• Bring headphones if you would like to listen to music or your favorite podcast on your mobile device.

Oral Hygiene

• Keep the area of the affected tooth as clean as possible.
• Brush At Least Twice A Day: Conventional wisdom says that you should brush at least twice a day; once in the morning and once before you go to bed. Two times a day is a good rule of thumb. But ideally, you should brush right after a meal. This is to maximize the amount of time your teeth stay clean between meals.
• When You Cannot Brush Your Teeth, Rinse With Water Or Mouthwash: It is sometimes not practical to be brushing after every meal. You may be busy at work or at school during your day and cannot find time to brush or floss. If this is the case, at least rinse with water or mouthwash to get as much food debris and taste out of your mouth. One brand that we highly recommend is Crest Gum Care Mouthwash Oral Rinse
• Consider Upgrading Your Toothbrush: Ensure you are using a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your teeth and gums, as they are gentler and less likely to cause damage or irritation to the gum tissue around it. One brand of toothbrush that we highly recommend is the Curaprox CS5460 Ultra Soft Swiss Toothbrush. Also consider upgrading to an electric toothbrush, which can be more effective at removing plaque and bacteria from the teeth and gums. One brand of electric toothbrush that we highly recommend is the Philips Sonicare Protectiveclean 6100.
• Floss Daily: Flossing is critical to remove plaque and food particles that may accumulate around your teeth and gums. Ideally you should be flossing every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. We recommend GUM ButlerWeave Dental Floss. If you have difficulty using regular string floss, consider using dental flossers (such as Sunstar 888JC GUM Advanced Care Flossers) or interdental brushes (GUM Proxabrush) to clean the space between the teeth and gums.
• Buy A Water Flosser: We highly recommend you purchase a Water Flosser and to use it daily in addition to regular flossing; the Water Flosser will flush out debris missed by floss and toothbrush. Ideally you should be water flossing every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. One brand that we highly recommend is the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser 
• Use A Gum Care Antibacterial Mouthwash Daily: Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash specially formulated for gum care daily to help reduce the risk of gingivitis or periodontitis and to freshen your breath. Ideally you should be rinsing with mouthwash every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. One brand that we highly recommend is Crest Gum Care Mouthwash Oral Rinse
• Use A Gum Care Toothpaste: Be sure to use a toothpaste that has a unique formula that penetrates deep into the gums, providing a deep clean that helps to neutralize harmful bacteria and promote gum health. One brand that we highly recommend is the Crest Pro Health Gum Detoxify Deep Clean Toothpaste.

Clothing

• Be sure to wear comfortable, open collared, loose clothing to the tooth extraction appointment. 
• Try to not wear a light color or white top to prevent visible staining. 
• Minimal or no make-up is recommended. 
• Avoid high heels and coloured/gel nail polish. 
• Please remove contact lenses and all jewelry, especially from the tongue, lip, or nose.

Work and Social Obligations

• It would be best to ask for a leave of absence from work for 1 or 2 days post dental surgery. A sick leave letter can be arranged by your dentist for your employer. It may be necessary to arrange for childminding if you have children.

Review The Post-Operative Instructions

You should review the tooth removal post operative instructions. Be familiar with what you must do after your dental visit to ensure a successful recovery.

Have Questions?

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact us.