After tooth extraction, any intense or highly aerobic activity, including intercourse or some forms of sexual activity (even kissing), should be avoided for at least two days. Oral sex, on the other hand, should be avoided until the wound has healed for a few weeks. Physical activity after tooth extraction can cause Dry socket.
Try not to overwork yourself in the first 24 hours after tooth extraction because this is when your body is still forming a blood clot, and you don’t want your heart to beat too fast and cause bleeding.
Oral intercourse should be avoided as well for a few days for two reasons: external contaminants like infections could be a concern, but more crucially, the sucking action could cause the blood clot to dislodge, putting the gum at risk of infection.
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Physical activity and intercourse can interfere with the healing process by affecting the formation or retention of a blood clot. Excessive bleeding is also a possibility. This is due to the fact that any severe exercise or activity causes your heart to beat and pump faster. Faster pumping also leads to faster blood flow, making it more difficult to form a blood clot or might even dislodge the already formed blood clot.
It takes a lot of patience to wait till your mouth is completely healed. There have been reports of patients who bled excessively after tooth removal, resulting in severe problems and even death. The earliest clots in the tooth sockets normally form between 2-4 days, and the wounds heal in about a week.
After having your teeth pulled, it’s important to follow your dentist’s post-extraction instructions carefully. It is necessary to relax for at least the first 48 hours following the extraction. Then, for the next two or three days, reduce your physical activities.
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To avoid a “dry socket,” where there is no blood clot filling the socket thereby exposing the nerves, it is best to wait up to a week (3 days minimum) before having intercourse.
Additionally, sucking anything with a straw might induce more bleeding by dislodging the blood clot. It’s paramount you adhere to the dentist’s safety precautions. Some of these post-extraction safety measures can be found below…
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Things To Expect During Tooth Extraction
Dentists and oral surgeons do tooth extractions. Before extracting the tooth, your dentist will inject you with a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be extracted from. In some circumstances, your dentist may administer a strong general anesthetic. This will prevent you from experiencing discomfort throughout your body and allow you to sleep during the procedure.
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If the tooth is damaged, the dentist will remove the gum and bone tissue that covers it, then gently rock the tooth back and forth using forceps to liberate it from the jaw bone and ligaments that keep it in place. It’s possible that a difficult-to-pull tooth will need to be extracted in pieces.
Pain following a tooth extraction is normally at its worst 24-48 hours after surgery, and it can range from minor to moderate, depending on whether the tooth was loose, whether it was a simple or surgical extraction, and, of course, your pain threshold. To keep you comfortable after surgery, your dentist will prescribe pain medicine. You should be alright if you take the pain medicine before the numbness from the anesthetic wears off.
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Active bleeding and blood seeping should stop within a few hours post-extraction, and a blood clot should develop. In some people with additional medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or those using blood thinners, minor bleeding and or redness of the saliva might last up to 24 hours or even 48 hours. Biting down on the gauze pack and applying pressure to the wound will stop the bleeding. Using a teabag to cover the socket can also help.
Precautionary Measures After Tooth Extraction
It’s paramount you adhere to the dentist’s post-extraction safety precautions. Here are some of them:
- After the tooth has been removed, keep your gauze in place for 2 hours. This aids in bleeding control by providing a blood clot.
- Any form of exercise, including sexual activity, should not be done as suggested. Exercise or intercourse can raise your blood pressure and cause bleeding at the extraction site.
- For three days, don’t smoke or drink through a straw. If you smoke or use a straw, you may get a dry socket.
- For the next 24 hours, do not rinse your mouth. This increases your chances of developing dry socket. A dry socket can be extremely painful.
- For the next 24 hours, eat only soft foods and drink plenty of water. This aids with pain management.
- Apply 15 to 20 minutes of ice to any swollen regions of your face every hour or as advised. Use an ice pack or a plastic bag filled with crushed ice. It should be covered with a towel. Ice reduces swelling and pain while preventing tissue damage.
- Sleep with your head up to help reduce swelling. Sleeping on your side is not recommended.
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Acetaminophen is usually prescribed for pain and fever relief. It is available without a prescription from a doctor. Inquire about the dosage and frequency of administration. Pay attention to the instructions. If taken incorrectly, acetaminophen might harm the liver.
Stronger prescription pain relievers may be prescribed by the dentist if and when needed.
Contact your dentist or oral surgeon if:
- You have bleeding that hasn’t stopped after your tooth extraction has been done for 12 hours.
- You’ve got a fever.
- You experience a bad taste in your mouth or discharge from the extraction site.
- You’re suffering from excruciating, throbbing pain and swelling that won’t go away despite treatment.
- In your mouth, there is numbness or tingling.
- You have the impression that your teeth have migrated or are misaligned.
- One week after your tooth extraction, you still can’t fully open your mouth.
- You have concerns or questions about your condition or treatment.
Can You Have Sex After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Avoid having sex after wisdom teeth removal for up to a minimum of 3 days. Any intense or highly aerobic activity, like exercise or intercourse, or even kissing, should be avoided for at least three days after wisdom teeth removal. This is because the heart pumps blood faster during exercise or sex which can result in a dry socket by preventing blood clot formation or even dislodging already formed blood clots on the extraction site. Oral sex should be avoided also until the wound has healed for a few weeks. This helps avoid infection and dislodgement of the blood clot. Any sucking action should be avoided as well.
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Conclusion
Do not have intercourse after tooth extraction! Oral sex and any other intense or highly aerobic activity should be avoided also. Having intercourse or oral sex after tooth extraction or after wisdom teeth removal can result in a dry socket by preventing blood clot formation or even dislodging already formed blood clots on the extraction site. A dry socket can be very painful and can cause serious problems.
It’s important to follow your dentist’s post-extraction instructions carefully. It is necessary to relax for at least the first 24 hours following the extraction. Then, for the next two or three days, reduce your physical activities