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Long-term problems with periodontal disease, tooth decay or major dental issues can severely compromise the full function of your mouth. Beyond impairing your ability to adequately chew food, they can impact your speech and leave you feeling self-conscious about your smile.

In a case like this, your dentist, Dr. Bahar Rowhani, might recommend restoring the full function and appearance of your mouth with dentures. Of course, in order to do this, any other remaining teeth will need to be extracted to give the new dentures a secure fit on your gums.

Dr. Bahar Rowhani offers a few basic preparation and aftercare tips to help you quicken your recovery time after multiple tooth extractions.

Most people prefer to be deeply sedated when having multiple teeth extracted. If you are the same way, this means that you will need to have a friend or family member drive you home afterward.

If you use tobacco, your recovery time and infection risks will be greatly increased. It might be best to talk to your primary physician in advance about a tobacco cessation program. If possible, try to choose a program that doesn’t involve lozenges or nicotine gum because they can also irritate healing gum tissue.

During the recovery phase, you will need to eat a soft-foods diet. Staying properly hydrated is also important. Drink plenty of lukewarm liquids without using a straw. The suction of the straw can harm the incisions or pull blood clots loose.

It’s natural and expected for the incision sites to bleed for a few days after surgery. You can lightly pack the area with sterile gauze. Once the bleeding stops, you can rinse your mouth gently with lukewarm saltwater to remove blood clots and to soothe the gums.

If you have additional questions about how to prepare for multiple tooth extractions in Falls Church, Virginia, please call Falls Church Comprehensive Dentistry at 703-241-0666 to schedule an appointment.