You thought tooth extraction was the end of all your worries, but what about that white patch on your gums? We understand that it may be concerning, which is why this blog can be a perfect piece of reading for you.
After tooth extraction, noticing white stuff in the socket is unsettling, but take this as a sign of healthy healing. It all starts with your body forming a protective blood clot that may appear white at the tooth extraction site. Shortly after this step, granulation tissue grows, which is delicate and composed of blood vessels, collagen, and white blood cells. Its formation is crucial for filling the site and preventing dry socket formation.
However, if the white stuff at your tooth extraction site is painful, then it is a cause for concern. It may be due to a dry socket. It is the situation where the blood clot dislodges or fails to form, exposing the underlying bone and nerves resulting in pain.
Tooth Extraction Healing and White Stuff Presence
Healing after tooth extraction is a given, be it your wisdom tooth or any other, which means that a white patch in the extraction site is to be expected. Its presence could be one of two things – a good of healing, and the second is not. Let’s take a look at both:
Surgical material
The dentist will apply gauze to the surgery site to stop the bleeding after your tooth is taken out. That small piece of gauze is asked to bite on, which may leave a tiny piece behind that may cause anxiety.
Stuck food particles
If you have had anything to eat post-surgery, that white stuff in your empty socket could be the last food you ate. The debris itself is not harmful, but it does pose a risk of dislocating the clot.
Dry socket
A dry socket is the most common complication that may occur during the healing process from tooth extraction. Around 1-5% of people develop dry sockets after undergoing this procedure. It happens when the blood clot fails to form or dislodges before the gum has fully recovered.
What does a dry socket look like
The hole in your gums left behind after tooth extraction should have a dark-colored scab. But if you have a dry socket, the clot will be absent, with a visible bone sticking out, making it appear white.
Oral infection
Noticing a white-yellowish fluid at the healing site indicates pus, which is a sign of an infection. If it comes along with the following symptoms, get in touch with your dental surgeon immediately:
- Inflammation of gum tissues for the first 2-3 days.
- 24 hours of continuous bleeding.
- Pain that only worsens.
- Bad taste in the mouth.
- Fever spike
Healing after Tooth Extraction
The healing process post extraction of teeth happens in the form of stages and needs meticulous care for successful recovery.
Immediate Healing (Day 1)
Right after a tooth extraction, your body initiates a healing process that repairs the site where the tooth once used to be. Immediately after the extraction, your body will start the clotting process to stop the bleeding. This step is crucial for healing, as it protects the area from external wrath and promotes the regrowth of new tissue. You may experience some pain, discomfort, and swelling, along with minor bleeding, which is normal and should subside over the next few days.
Granulation Tissue Formation (Days 2-3)
As the blood clot takes full strength, granulation tissues begin to develop underneath. This tissue is a mix of new blood vessels, collagen fibers, and white blood cells, giving it a white look. The granulation tissue serves as a protective barrier over the extraction site.
Maturation and Gum Tissue Closure (Days 4-7)
As the granulation tissue gets better, the extraction site should start to close up. You will feel more comfortable with the pain, swelling, and bleeding gone down. By this time, you can return to normal activities such as gentle brushing and rinsing with salt water. You can expect the gum tissue and bone in the area to fully regenerate and the extraction site to close up and heal by this point.
Final Healing (Days 7-14)
As soon as you surpass week 2, the extraction site is expected to fully heal, and any stitches dissolved or removed. The gum tissue and bone fully regenerates, and the extraction site becomes indistinguishable from the surrounding tissue. And there are no more signs of infection, such as worsening pain, swelling, fever, or pus. The presence of the white stuff usually is normal and an expected part of the healing process.
How to Know If the Extraction Site Is Fully Healed?
After 3-4 weeks, when there are no signs of pain and pus, the process of healing is considered complete. Although you may still feel a bit of tenderness at the site of your extraction, there is no pain or bleeding as such.
Closing Note
Now you have the idea about what this white stuff at the site of your tooth extraction is and how the adverse events post-extraction can be avoided.
We hope that this blog was able to answer your questions. If you have more questions regarding the tooth extraction we offer, get in touch with Dr. Amjad Sheikh at Trinity Dental Centers, who has more than 20 years of experience in the field.
He and his team are just a call away to guide you through all your dental needs. Dial (281) 724-4510 to connect with us.
