Fact: Cold can help reduce swelling (for example, using an ice pack on the outside), but sugary ice cream can stick around the wound and increase bacteria and infection risk, and very cold food may irritate the area. Tip: If your dentist has not advised otherwise, you may have small amounts of soft, not‑too‑sweet cold foods (like low‑sugar yogurt), but don’t treat ice cream like medicine.

The blood clot that forms after an extraction is your mouth’s “natural bandage”. Vigorous rinsing or forceful spitting can dislodge it, leading to more bleeding, severe pain and problems like dry socket. Tip: For the first 24 hours, avoid strong rinsing and forceful spitting. If you need to get rid of excess blood and saliva, let it gently flow out and bite on the gauze as instructed by your dentist.