Post extraction and Flipper question

[Sarithecat]

Hi, sorry for yet another question I had the extraction yesterday and placement of a partial/flipper tooth. The relief is huge and I can feel the anxieties around the infection that have plagued me for the past few weeks beginning to settle.

I did ask her whether I needed antibiotics after the extraction as infection was present she said unlikely they'd be needed and to see how it goes. Is this normal? ( I'm not doubting her word, its just my anxiety gets into my head and starts making me think maybe everybody else does it a different way and the infection will get worse)

She didn't really offer any advice about the flipper tooth denture, I asked if I should keep in for first night she said I could. I did keep it in last night and am tempted to keep in again tonight or is this not necessary?

What do I clean it with? I've had a search on this site and people say mild soap but I'm unsure what that means. Is it literal soap like you'd wash your body with?

As a side not, if anyone stumbles on this post and is waiting for a similar treatment;its a upper front tooth and I have to say its a good looking piece of kit. Its NHS and I was unsure what was coming but hardly any palate cover, no metal clasps and no gum cover so far its not too uncomfortable to wear.

 

[Gordon]

I did ask her whether I needed antibiotics after the extraction as infection was present she said unlikely they'd be needed and to see how it goes. Is this normal? ( I'm not doubting her word, its just my anxiety gets into my head and starts making me think maybe everybody else does it a different way and the infection will get worse)

No need for antibiotics, the root cause (sorry!) of the infection has been removed (the tooth), any few remaining bacteria will be easily mopped up by your excellent immune system.

She didn't really offer any advice about the flipper tooth denture, I asked if I should keep in for first night she said I could. I did keep it in last night and am tempted to keep in again tonight or is this not necessary?

Not a great idea, it's usually best to remove a denture over night to give the gums a chance to recover. You must keep it in overnight on the first night though, just so the clot forms around the denture.
Some people are very uncomfortable with the idea of not wearing the denture in bed so choose to wear it overnight, but it's not ideal.

What do I clean it with? I've had a search on this site and people say mild soap but I'm unsure what that means. Is it literal soap like you'd wash your body with?

Washing up liquid, you could use literal soap but Fairy liquid (other brands are available) is easier. Use a small nail brush to give it a scrub.

It's a good habit to give the denture a soak in some diluted bleach (yes, literal bleach) for 20 mins or so once a week. The ratio of 1 cap of bleach to 1 cup of COLD water is fine. The acrylic your denture is made from is slightly porous, fungi from your mouth can get established in the denture and can cause problems if your immune system takes a knock or if you're taking antibiotics for some reason. Don't forget to rinse it off before you put it back in!

Do not use Steradent or similar. It's an effective antibacterial agent but does nothing against fungi. You have both naturally occurring in your mouth, if you wipe out the bacteria in the denture then the fungi have no competition and will flourish, which isn't great.

 

[Sarithecat]

@Gordon thank you very much. Fairy liquid makes sense. I will also do the diluted bleach once a week, I don't like the sound of a build up of fungus at all! I appreciate your help more than I can say. Going to try and sit back and turn my brain off for a few days and just stop fretting about every little thing.