1-3 Days After Extraction Or else it could result in an extremely painful complication known as a dry socket. One week to 10 days after the extraction, the hole will be almost closed as gum tissues continue to repair, and your gums won't be tender or swollen. However, you may feel an indentation with your tongue.
You can expect it to take about 7-10 days to heal from dry socket as new tissue begins to cover the exposed bone and heal the wound. If you have periodontal disease or thin bone, it may take longer to heal.
The bones in the extraction site won't fully reform, but the gum tissue will completely cover the empty socket. If, due to any reason, you still see an empty socket in the gums after tooth removal, immediately see your dentist. Slow healing or frequent dry sockets can increase the chances of infection development.
The tissue is a creamy white colour made of collagen, blood vessels and white blood cells. The formation of this tissue is a great sign! It means your socket is healing properly. Once a blood clot has formed and granulation tissue has appeared in your extraction site, you're well on the road to recovery!
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.
About 3 days after your tooth extraction, your gums will begin to heal and close around the removal site. And finally, 7-10 days after your procedure, the opening left by your extracted tooth should be closed (or almost closed), and your gums should no longer be tender or swollen.
A healthy socket will be a hole with a noticeable blot clot in the center. If your socket appears white in color, chances are you are seeing exposed bone and have lost the blood clot. In cases where bacteria or infection cause the clot to dissolve, you may see a socket that is black, green, or yellow in color.
After a tooth extraction, you should develop a blood clot in the socket (hole) that's left behind. It'll look like a dark-colored scab. But if you have a dry socket, the clot will be absent and you'll be able to see bone. For this reason, dry sockets usually appear white.
Food will probably get stuck in the sockets until they close over completely. This may cause problems with bad breath and a bad taste in your mouth. You can rinse with salt water as described on page 4 to help keep your mouth clean.
When Can I Stop Worrying About Dry Socket? Until the full recovery of your extraction site, a dry socket can form if you fail to follow the care tips. Usually, a week (7-8 days) after wisdom tooth extraction, you can stop worrying about a dry socket as gums take this much time to close fully.
Your gums do not grow back after receding, however they can be restored to an extent. This process is called regeneration and usually occurs after the underlying bone has been exposed. However, not all cases of gum recession are reversible.
How Should My Tooth Extraction Site Look? Your site should begin to clot and form whitish granulation tissue after about a week. Granulation tissues protect the clot from dissolving and protect the site while new bone is forming.
Use a soft-bristled brush and clean your mouth gently and slowly using small circular motions. Don't clean the teeth adjacent to the wound area for the rest of the day, but you can start cleaning them the next day. Avoid allowing the brush to hit the extraction socket for the first three days.
Large Tooth
The hole created after extraction of a larger tooth is bigger since it has more than one root, i.e., extended healing time. You will start feeling better around third week after the extraction process.
By day 3, your gum swelling should subside and your open wound from extraction will begin to close. In 7 days, your gums should be very close to being completely healed with minimal sensitivity or pain. These are all signs that your gums are healing nicely and in the expected time frame.
The sockets will be virtually totally healed after around 14 days. At the extraction site, however, the tissue will be tender and sensitive. Avoid chewing too much food near the extraction site and avoid brushing this tissue too much.
You should eat only soft foods for the first week: for example, soups, eggs, mashed potatoes, and meatloaf are fine. For 2 weeks (8 weeks if you had lower wisdom teeth extracted), do not eat hard, crunchy, or very chewy foods, such as European breads, pizza crust, steak or jerky, nuts, or popcorn.
It is best to stick to soft foods requiring minimal chewing, such as applesauce, yogurt and pudding. Vitamin C and vitamin A help to support the healing process following a tooth extraction. Therefore, it is a good idea to eat foods rich in these nutrients.
Alcohol can hinder your body's natural healing process while also increasing the risk of infection. Your dentist will suggest avoiding alcohol for at least 7 to 10 days after your extraction to allow your tissue to heal. Instead, they will recommend drinking plenty of water.
Dairy contains proteins that can encourage the growth of bacteria and increase the risk of infection. This is because dairy provides an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, which can lead to swelling and discomfort in the gums and surrounding area.
After a tooth extraction or other dental procedure, this bone fragment may feel like a sharp bone sticking out of your gums or an uncomfortable object creating pressure. The piece of bone protruding out is part of your body's natural process of removing stray bone from the affected site.