What should your gum look like after a tooth extraction

You and your dentist determined that a tooth extraction in savage was the best option for your dental health, you’ve had the procedure and now you need to know what to expect over the next 24 hours, 1-2 weeks, 3-4 weeks, and what to expect as the bone heals.

Your dentist will be the best resource when trying to manage your expectations of time away from work or school but there are some factors that will affect everyone’s healing time. Depending on the size of the tooth pulled, a molar versus an incisor, the tooth will leave a correspondingly larger or smaller wound once removed. Your personal medical history and genetics will play a part in your healing process. If you bruise easily or use tobacco regularly, then the extraction will take longer to clot and consequently heal. Usually, the younger you are, the faster you will heal from this surgery with less bruising, less swelling and less dental complications than older patients.

In the first 24 hours following the extraction, the bleeding should have stopped and a blood clot should be in place where the tooth was removed. The gum around the wound will be tender to the touch and the pain from the tooth removal should be subsiding. Alternatively, you can count on starting to see some swelling or inflammation on the side of the mouth of the extraction. This is your body sending help to heal the traumatized tissue. The best practice for most people is to take the day off from any straining or intensive physical work and if your dentist used IV sedation or general anesthesia, taking the day off of work or anything that involves concentration or critical thinking is going to prove to be helpful.

After the first and second weeks following your tooth extraction, you will notice the gums starting to close off the hole left behind. Compared to skin tissue or bone tissue, the gum tissue inside your mouth heals at a faster rate. The blood clot originally formed in the extraction site has transitioned to the beginning stages of gum tissue. The spot will still be sensitive and will bleed more easily that the surrounding gum tissue so take care to not poke or jab the site.

After the third and fourth weeks following your tooth extraction, the extraction site will be mostly new gum tissue and may show a slight indent where the tooth used to be. The site will be slightly tenderer to sharp-edged foods but should no longer be causing any pain or irritation.

When your tooth is extracted from your jaw, there is trauma to the jaw bone and this will take longer to heal than the gum tissue. The bone will start to heal after one week, nearly fill in the hole with new bone tissue by ten weeks and completely fill in the extraction hole by four months. Eight months after the extraction, the edges of the new bone should be flush with the old bone. The bone tissue will start to harden from week one to month eight.

More Information on Tooth Extraction : Tooth Extraction Cost

Skip to content

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR OFFICE
    • OUR TEAM
  • SERVICES
    • Cosmetic Tooth Bonding
    • Bone Grafting
    • Cosmetic and General Dentistry
    • Crowns and Bridgework
    • Cosmetic Gum Surgery
    • Implant Dentistry
    • Dental Fillings
    • Inlays and Onlays
    • Invisalign
    • Oral Cancer Screening
    • Periodontal Therapy
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Professional Teeth Cleanings
    • Removable Dentures
    • Root Canal Treatment
    • Dental Sealants
    • Sinus Surgery
    • Gum Grafting
    • Teeth Whitening
    • TMD/TMJ
    • Tooth Extractions
  • PATIENT RESOURCES
    • SMILE GALLERY
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT US
  • REQUEST APPOINTMENT

Tooth Extraction Healing: What’s the White Stuff?

Tooth Extraction Healing: What’s the White Stuff?

When you have a tooth pulled, you will often see white stuff form in your tooth socket. Most of the time, it means that the site is healing properly. The white stuff can be one of two things.  

Typically, the white stuff is granulation tissue. It is essential to the healing process of the extraction site. Other times, the white stuff is pus or a dry socket. 

A dry socket is often painful, and it occurs when the blood clot does not form correctly. If it is left untreated, a dry socket can trigger an infection. Read below to find out more about tooth extraction healing and what is the white stuff? 

What is the White Stuff After Tooth Extraction?

Whether you get a tooth extraction due to having your wisdom teeth removed or an extraction because you have some damaged teeth, there is always a healing process involved. You may see the presence of white stuff in the tooth extraction area. 

The white stuff can be one of two things. The first is a good, healing sign, and the second is not a good sign, but do not panic. Below will explain to you what the white stuff is in the tooth extraction site:

Healing Granulation Tissue

The healing process begins within the first day or so after tooth extraction. A blood clot develops over the extraction site. Shortly after, you will see tooth extraction healing white stuff form around the tooth socket. 

If you are not in any pain, this is a good sign. It means that the white stuff is something called granulation tissue, that replaces the clot in the extraction site as the wound begins to heal. It plays an integral part in healing the area of the extraction site.

The granulation tissue is comprised of the following:

  • Blood vessels
  • Collagen
  • White blood cells

Granulation tissue is a healthy aspect of healing in a tooth extraction site. If you just had your wisdom teeth removed, it is essential to keep the area clean so that the white stuff you see is not from any harmful bacteria, and it remains a good sign.

When the White Stuff is NOT a Good Sign

If your dentist needs to make an incision in the gum tissue to remove your wisdom teeth, you will need to be even more careful around the extraction site. The dentist may remove bone and teeth, which can trigger other problems.

There could be contamination in the normal socket after tooth extraction because of food that gets stuck, or it could lead to a painful dry socket. Your task is to make sure that the site is healing normally.  

If you experience any of the following, there could be a problem within the extraction site:

  • Discernible bone in the socket
  • White pus in the tooth extraction site
  • Pain following the procedure
  • Pain that spreads from the ear, eye, temple, or neck 
  • Intolerable or bad taste in the mouth
  • Inflammation
  • Bad breath
  • Partial or total loss of blood clot

If you encounter any of these signs above, it may indicate that the site is not healing correctly. A dry socket is the most frequent problem after getting a tooth extracted. The white stuff is the necrotic gum tissue surrounding the socket. 

If the white stuff falls out of the socket, this is not a good sign. Your bones and nerves are not protected, which can leave you susceptible to infection. 

If you believe you have got a dry socket, you should contact your dentist immediately.

What Are the Signs of Infection?

You may see white or yellow pus form after extraction. Pus indicates that there is an infection. Other signs of infection include:

  • Persistent swelling
  • Increased pain
  • Fever
  • Unpleasant taste in the mouth
  • Bleeding that goes on for more than 24 hours

Infections are prevalent following a tooth extraction. The most evident sign of infection is bleeding, which typically occurs within two or three days after the procedure. You have to see your dentist as soon as possible. 

Your family dentist will be able to stop the bleeding and give you antibiotics. Healing from a tooth extraction can be a complicated and often grueling process. 

Healing generally takes about two weeks after the extraction. You will most likely have a follow-up appointment with your dentist medford after two weeks to determine your progression or success with the healing process.  

Conclusion

The white stuff that comes after a tooth extraction is often one of two things. Most of the time, it is granulation tissue, which is a typical sign of healing. Other times, it could signify an infection or a dry socket. If your extraction is not healing correctly or if you notice anything unusual, you need to visit the dentist. Medford Dentist will help you maintain healthy teeth. GIO Dental offers a full array of dental services to help you and your family maintain healthy teeth and is a trusted & reliable dentist in Medford, MA. To learn more about our dental services, call (781) 777-1812 or make an appointment with us today.

sahil2022-10-19T10:00:55+00:00

Page load link

Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance

What color is your gum supposed to be after tooth extraction?

The next step in the healing process is the transformation of the blood clot into granulation tissue. This consists of blood vessels, white blood cells, and collagen, which help fight infection and fill in the hole from the tooth extraction. The granulation tissue can appear white or cream-colored.

What does infected gums look like after tooth extraction?

While it is normal for the area surrounding the extraction to be red and swollen, signs that could indicate a possible infection include: Pus: A white or yellow pus may be discharged from the socket. Swelling: Initial swelling is normal, but continued swelling could be cause for concern.

How should the gums look after tooth extraction?

Within 24 hours of your tooth extraction, a blood clot will form in your socket to stop the bleeding. Once the clot forms, your body will start building granulation tissue to cover the wound. This tissue often appears a creamy white color and consists of collagen, white blood cells, and blood vessels.