A small hole, or socket, where your wisdom tooth once was is a normal part of the healing process after extraction. This space will gradually close and fill with new tissue over time. This article explains what to anticipate during recovery and how to properly care for the extraction site.
Understanding the Healing Process
Immediately after wisdom tooth extraction, a blood clot forms in the empty socket. This clot protects the underlying bone and nerve endings, shielding the wound and providing a foundation for new tissue growth. This clot is important for proper healing and helps prevent complications.
Within 24 to 48 hours, a delicate substance called granulation tissue develops over the blood clot. This tissue, a mixture of new blood vessels, collagen, and white blood cells, rebuilds the area and fights infection. Gum tissue begins to close over the extraction site within seven to twenty-one days, and a smooth texture may be noticeable within about two weeks. While soft tissue heals relatively quickly, the underlying bone can take three to six months to fully regenerate and strengthen.
Caring for the Extraction Site
Proper care of the extraction site promotes healing and avoids issues. For the first 24 hours after surgery, it is recommended to avoid vigorous rinsing, as this can dislodge the protective blood clot. After this period, begin gentle rinsing with warm salt water, using about half a teaspoon of salt per glass, two to three times a day for about a week.
Dietary adjustments are also necessary during recovery. For the first 24 hours, stick to very soft foods or liquids, such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, or lukewarm soups. Over the next few days, gradually introduce semi-soft foods like eggs, pasta, or soft vegetables. Avoid using straws for at least a week, as the sucking action can dislodge the blood clot. Also avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy foods that could irritate the site.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is important, but with care. Begin gently brushing your teeth the day after surgery, but avoid the immediate extraction site for the first few days. Pain management involves over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen. Applying ice packs to the outside of your cheek for 15-20 minutes at a time during the first 24-48 hours can help reduce swelling and discomfort. Always follow post-operative instructions provided by your dentist or oral surgeon.
When to Seek Dental Attention
While some discomfort, swelling, and minor bleeding are expected after wisdom tooth removal, certain signs indicate a potential complication requiring immediate dental attention. If you experience severe or increasing pain not managed by medication, it could signal a dry socket or infection. Pain from a dry socket begins one to five days after extraction and can be intense and throbbing, often radiating to the ear, eye, temple, or neck.
Contact your oral surgeon for persistent or excessive bleeding that continues for more than 24 hours, or if the blood clot dislodges and bleeding returns. Signs of infection include swelling that worsens after three days, fever, pus or discharge from the extraction site, a foul odor, or a bad taste in your mouth. Difficulty breathing or swallowing, or lingering numbness around the lips, tongue, or chin, also warrant immediate evaluation.