Tooth decay, tooth infection, crowding and any of these could lead to you needing a tooth extraction procedure. If you recently had a tooth extraction and have noticed some white stuff in the site where your tooth was extracted, don’t panic, this article will explain the significance of tooth extraction healing white stuff.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TOOTH EXTRACTION HEALING WHITE STUFF
After you have had your tooth removed, you may have notice white stuff in the area where the tooth is healing. If your surgery was a success, your body begins to repair damaged tissues in your socket.
Within 24 hours after your tooth extraction, a blood clot is formed over the extraction site, signifying that your body has begun its healing process.
During the time your tooth is healing, you will begin to see white stuff in or around the extraction site. At this point, it is crucial that you observe if you are healing properly and not experiencing severe pain in the area. If you are not, then it is perfectly normal and it is as a result of a unique tissue that helps in the healing process of your tooth, called granulation tissue.
GRANULATION TISSUE
Granulation tissue often looks like a creamy white colour and consists of collagen, white blood cells, blood vessels, and red blood cells.
Collectively, these cells form the connective tissue that closes the wound as the healing process continues, supplies oxygen to this newly formed tissue, while destroying the old tissue and watching out for any form of infection.
So you see? The white spot you notice could just be your body’s way of taking care of itself. Although sometimes there are other reasons why there is the white stuff in your tooth extraction area, this is why you should be observant during your healing process so you could easily notice any abnormal changes, such as bleeding, pain, pus or continues swelling.
OTHER REASON FOR TOOTH EXTRACTION HEALING WHITE STUFF
Aside from the granulation tissue appearing as it should after an extraction process, there are other reasons for tooth extraction healing white stuff in the area of your extraction site, either way, ensure to go back to your dentist when you notice any of the signs above as it could be a sign of something else.
Other reasons why there is white stuff after a tooth extraction could be any of the following:
1. DRY SOCKET
A dry socket can happen within 3 days of tooth extraction. It is an extremely painful condition that is caused when the raw bone is left exposed because the gum does no longer covers the bone and the initial blood clot that is supposed to be formed over your tooth socket either falls off or fails to develop before your gum heals fully.
When this happens, tiny nerve endings become exposed, which leads to the severe pain you feel
A biofilm is formed over the socket bone and gum tissue margins. The margins of the gum tissue die, resulting in the whitish stuff you see. This white substance is made up of bacteria, debris, and dead bone and gum cells.
SYMPTOMS
The hallmark symptom of a dry socket is the severe pain you will feel. The pain is mostly accompanied by other symptoms such as; bad pain, loss of blood clot and unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Several days after your tooth extraction has been done and you still feel severe pain, ensure to call your dentist, because a dry socket if left untreated, will grow into an infection.
2. INFECTION
This might be as a result of an untreated dry socket, or the extraction was not done properly. Most times, it is a result of an untreated dry socket.
In this case, you will notice either white pus or yellow pus after extraction.
Other signs you will notice are:
- Continuous swelling
- Fever
- Bad taste in your mouth
- Severe bleeding
- Severe pain
Pus is usually a sign of an infection when you notice pus in your socket, you should immediately talk with your dentist, he might prescribe an antibiotic for treatment.
3. PLAQUE
After tooth extraction, your dentist might instruct you to stop brushing for a few days so you don’t cause your socket to bleed, instead, you may be instructed to use warm water and salt to gargle.
Plaque is a sticky film made up of bacteria and when you don’t brush it is formed on the tooth. Brushing or flossing breaks up this plaque.
You may notice a plaque around or in your sockets, no need to panic if this is your case. Once you can clean around the extracted tooth, the plaque will go away. Plaque is not accompanied by any form of pain, swelling, or bleeding.
TOOTH EXTRACTION AFTER-CARE
After you have had a tooth extraction, you should consider certain measures to ensure you don’t interrupt the healing process.
Sometimes the infection and dry sockets are caused due to your activities after your tooth extraction procedure.
Here are a few things you should avoid doing after a tooth extraction procedure, at least until the healing process is complete:
- Avoid rinsing within the first 2 days after the extraction.
- Do not use straws because they cause pressure in your mouth.
- Do not spit within 2 days after the extraction.
- Do not smoke
However, here are a few things you can do to help suppress the pain and improve the healing process:
- Take pain relievers
- Use cold compressors
- Take medications recommended by your dentist
- Eat soft foods.
CONCLUSION
After your tooth has been extracted, take care to see that you don’t interfere with the healing process, causing the blood clot to fall off or introducing any form of infection. Adhere to your dentist’s instructions.
Should swelling and pain worsen after your tooth has been extracted, be sure to report back to your dentist.