How Long After Tooth Extraction Can I Use Mouthwash
Mouthwash is one of the primary agents for maintaining oral hygiene.
Since it effectively removes bacteria and other harmful particles from your mouth, it is a must-have item that everybody uses in their daily life routine.
However, due to the consistency of chemicals and other preservatives in a mouth wash, people often think:
- Is it okay to use mouthwash after the tooth extraction?
- Will it harm my extraction site if you use it and if so…
- How long after tooth extraction can I use mouthwash?
These are all valid questions that totally make sense when asked; let’s find out their answers in this blog post.
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How Long After Tooth Extraction Can I Use Mouthwash?
According to orthodontic experts
If it is typical tooth extraction, you can use mouthwashes after 24 hours.
However, if you have gone through a wisdom tooth removal surgery, you should avoid using mouthwashes for 48 – 72 hours, depending on your tooth extraction site’s condition.
Important points:
- Typical tooth extraction is when the tooth is removed without any surgical process.
- A wisdom tooth extraction process requires incision, stitches, and anaesthesia.
Why shouldn’t you use Mouthwash on the day of tooth extraction?
Mouthwashes contain alcohol; for that reason, they must be avoided after tooth extraction because when your tooth is removed, the extraction site is entirely opened and is in the healing process.
And in that condition, using alcoholic mouthwashes can cause severe pain & irritations to the extraction site.
What’s more, this can also cause a dry socket and may also delay the healing process of your tooth extraction site.
What kind of mouthwash can you use after tooth extraction?
Now the question is, after the 24 hours of your tooth extraction, what mouthwash should you use?
Well, you can use any typical mouthwash that you have at your home. But it is said to avoid mouthwashes that contain harsh chemicals and mint flavours as they can irritate your gums.
However, if you want ideal mouthwash, we would recommend using Corsodyl Treatment Products on the next day of tooth extraction.
Corsodyl Treatment Products are effective after dental surgery as they contain Chlorhexidine Digluconate, which both fights bacteria and forms a protective antibacterial layer over the teeth and gums to avoid further plaque build-up.
You can visit their official site to learn more about their oral health products.
Can I use non-alcohol mouthwash after tooth extraction?
So if the main reason for not using mouthwashes after the tooth extraction is alcohol, then is it okay to use a non-alcohol or alcohol-less mouthwash after tooth extraction?
It is always recommended to ask your surgeon if you can use a non-alcoholic mouthwash just after extraction.
Because whether or not mouthwash is free from alcohol, it can still affect your extraction site with its other chemical agents.
Branded mouthwash products are made of different chemicals that can irritate your blood clots and cause bleeding.
In simple, ask your dentist before using a mouthwash; otherwise, it is recommended not to use any chemical products, not even the toothpaste on the extraction site in the first 24 hours of tooth extraction.
What to do if I accidentally rinsed my mouth after tooth extraction?
If you accidentally used mouthwash after tooth extraction, you should rinse your mouth frequently using tap water to remove the chemical from the extraction site.
There’s no need to worry much if you’ve used mouthwash after the extraction; however, if you are experiencing pain or irritation after that, then you should consult with your dentist to handle the difficult situation.
Can I use mouthwash before the tooth extraction?
Yes, it is highly recommended to maintain oral hygiene before surgery or extraction.
On the day of tooth removal, before visiting the dentist, brush, and use mouthwash.
Rinse your mouth thoroughly through the tap water before visiting the dentist.
Why is it necessary to use mouthwash after 24 hours of tooth extraction?
Your mouth doesn’t only need toothpaste to get cleaned because that’s to remove food particles, calculus, and other sticky items from there.
However, to kill germs, bacteria, plaque, and healing your wounds, you need to use a branded mouthwash.
Can you use mouthwash while wearing dentures?
This question is different from our major topic; however, this is one thing that people should know regarding the use of mouthwashes.
It is not recommended to use mouthwashes while wearing dentures; instead, you can use warm salt water for that purpose.
However, you can use mouthwash to clean your dentures when they are not in use.
How often in a day should you use mouthwashes?
Mouthwash is an effective tool in fighting against bacteria that resides inside your mouth, but it shouldn’t be considered a replacement for toothpaste or flossing.
All because mouthwashes are antibacterial liquids used to rinse your mouth, but not for cleaning the teeth, gums, and other sides of the mouth, so you shouldn’t overuse them. Ideally, it is suggested to use mouthwashes once a day.
Overuse of mouthwash may harm your gums, inner cheeks, and tongue.
Alternatives of mouthwash after tooth extraction
Since you cannot use mouthwash on the first day of tooth extraction, you can instead use some other natural remedies to avoid swelling, pain, and dry socket.
There are so many other safe and natural homemade solutions that you can use instead of mouthwashes.
And some of them are:
Rinse with tap water
It is the most common way to keep your mouth healthy after tooth extraction.
Simply, put some lukewarm water into your mouth, and rinse thoroughly especially the tooth extraction site.
Rinse frequently on the day of tooth extraction to reduce bleeding and heal the wounds.
Rinse with salt water – Best alternate of mouthwashes
Salt has beneficial healing properties, and that is why many experts recommend a salt water rinse after any oral surgery.
Saltwater is effective in fighting against infections, bacteria, and bleeding from your mouth.
It is one of the best homemade remedies that you must try after tooth extraction.
How to rinse with saltwater?
- Stir 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of lukewarm water.
- Swish the water, and let it touch the extraction site for a few seconds.
- Repeat this remedy two times a day.
Note: Stop using this remedy if you are experiencing any irritation from it.
Apply ice
Ice can be used to reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation in your gums.
Simply, take an ice pack, and apply it directly to the cheek where the tooth was extracted.
Use this remedy at least 2 – 3 times a day until you feel some relief.
Heat therapy
Alternate to ice packs, heat also helps to reduce pain after the tooth extraction.
Pour hot water into a water bottle and apply it directly against your face. Be sure you don’t use extremely hot water.
Repeat this remedy 2 – 3 times after tooth extraction.
Clove oil
Clove oil consists of eugenol, which has anti-inflammatory, anaesthetic, and antibacterial benefits.
It can help soothe pain and prevent infections from developing or increasing. It is also effective against the dry socket.
You can apply clove oil with gauze directly to the affected area.
However, clove oil may cause some side effects to you, so you must consult with a dentist before applying it after the tooth extraction.
Honey remedy
Honey, due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties is effective against the dry socket. It is also useful in reducing inflammation, pain, and discomfort on the tooth extraction site.
To use honey as a remedy, put some raw honey over sterile gauze and place it directly on the affected area.
Replace the gauze with a new one after a few hours if you want to reuse the remedy.
You may also want to check:
Black tea bags
Black tea has tannic acid, which is a natural antibacterial agent best for reducing both swelling and pain.
To use tea bags remedy, put a teabag in a cup of boil water for about five minutes and after that, squeeze the extra water out after it is cooled.
The teabag should be placed for 10 minutes in the refrigerator to work effectively.
After all these, gently bite down the tea bag to put liquid to the extraction site and after 15 minutes, rinse your mouth with the remaining tea.
The Bottom Line
To the end, the use of mouthwash is essential, but you should avoid it for at least one day after the day of tooth extraction.
Instead, you can use other mentioned natural remedies to treat pain, swelling, and other issues after tooth removal.
All in all, we hope you’ve learned so many things regarding the topic, and we hope you’ll forward them to others so they may also be aware of the critical stuff regarding mouthwashes before and after the tooth extraction.
