Though it may be tempting to touch or inspect the extraction site, doing so can cause additional bleeding, dislodge a suture, or even lead to dry socket, a painful condition. Keep your fingers and tongue away from the site as much as possible.
As the blood clot is vital for healing, it is essential you do not dislodge or remove it. Although it can be tempting to explore the new feel of your molar area, you should not touch the wound with your tongue. Licking can dislodge the clot or introduce bacteria to the fresh wound.
Don't: Disturb the Clot
It might feel strange to be missing a tooth, but you should avoid poking around the extraction site with your tongue or other object as the site heals. If you feel that something is off, call your dentist right away and have them carefully examine the area.
What does a dry socket feel like with your tongue? You'll be able to feel that the tooth's socket seems empty and open. (Due to the loss of its blood clot.) You're likely to feel the sharpness of the socket's exposed bone surfaces.
How will I know if my blood clot fell out? If you develop dry sockets, the pain will let you know that your wound is no longer protected. Swelling is also an indication you have lost your blood clot, as is the taste of blood in your mouth.
The socket may look empty. Bone that you can see in the socket. Pain that spreads from the socket to your ear, eye, temple or neck on the same side of your face as the tooth removal.
Examining Your Tongue: Upon a closer examination of the tongue, your dentist will check the size and texture of the tongue to ensure a healthy mouth. Your tongue's size and surface can determine a lot about your dental health, as well as your overall health.
Swallowing your saliva will create enough pressure to stop the residual bleeding and stabilize the blood clot. Swallowing your saliva will prevent DRY-SOCKET PAIN.
Over the first few days, you'll notice a soft covering start to form over the socket. The gum tissue should close off the extraction site within a matter of days. Within about two weeks, there should be a smooth texture over the socket that matches the gingiva (gum tissues) surrounding it.
Use the following tips for ways to remove food stuck in your wisdom teeth sockets: Dislodge the food by gently rinsing your mouth with warm salt water (saline) solution. Avoid swishing the water around and don't spit—this can lead to painful dry sockets.
Below are some things to avoid while you're healing. Don't drink with a straw, suck on candy or ice pops, slurp soups or other liquids, rinse your mouth vigorously, or smoke for 24 hours. These things create suction in the mouth. This may dislodge the blood clot.
Don't rinse for the first 24 hours, and this will help your mouth to start healing. After this time use a salt-water mouthwash, which helps to heal the socket. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water gently rinsed around the socket twice a day can help to clean and heal the area.
Simple tooth extraction
You can expect the gum to close the extraction hole in around 20-25 days. Full recovery of the extraction site requires several months.
If that numbness or tingling continues, however, you may have sustained an injury to the lingual nerve – the nerve that allows your tongue to taste and feel sensation. The most common cause of lingual nerve damage is negligent dental practices performed during the extraction of lower wisdom teeth.
Preventative dentistry is a practice designed to help all patients maintain optimal oral health, and a tongue exam aims to identify any issues such as infections, nutritional deficiencies and abnormal growths which may be present.
The Right Way – Your dentist in Bessemer will recommend that you gently rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth and about a half an inch away from the back of your front teeth. At the same time, your lips should be closed, and your teeth held slightly apart to avoid placing unnecessary pressure on your teeth.
Worsening pain in your mouth and face two to three days after the extraction is the most common symptom of dry socket. Discomfort can be mild, but it's often severe. Other dry socket symptoms include: Tenderness.
A dry socket occurs when the blood clot that normally forms to protect the wound after surgery becomes dislodged, exposing the bone and nerves. By sleeping with your head elevated, you can help to minimize the risk of developing a dry socket and promote faster healing after your wisdom tooth extraction.
Unfortunately dry socket is still possible with stitches. Dry socket can happen when the stitches fall out too early, which means the wound doesn't have time to heal. Most dentists use dissolvable stitches to close the wound after a tooth removal.
During the first 24 hours after a tooth extraction, you'll see a hole where the tooth once was. This empty socket will look deep red and a blood clot will form that reaches to about the level of the gumline. The tissue around the socket might appear whitish in color due to trauma.
When you are resting or sleeping, try to lie down so that your head is above your heart. This will lower your blood pressure and help control bleeding.
While this is normal, it may be uncomfortable or painful. The pain worsens once the anaesthetic wears off. Throbbing pain during the first 24 hours post-extraction is a sign that your body is healing.
Additionally, dairy products are harder for your body to digest as they contain casein protein, which slows down digestion significantly and increases inflammation throughout the body. This can delay the healing process and cause more discomfort.