Ask a Dentist

November 13, 2020

Q: How Long Will It Take To Heal After My Tooth Extraction?

A woman holds an ice pack to her jaw.

Many of us feel nervous when it comes to a tooth extraction, but it’s nothing to worry about and it will help your mouth feel better in the long run. Many factors influence the time it takes for your mouth to heal. We prepared some general information about tooth extraction tips to make your healing more comfortable. Let’s dive in!

Normal Healing Time 

In general, the healing period after a tooth extraction takes up to a few weeks. During the first week after a tooth extraction, the granulation tissue forms to protect the healing spot. Granulation tissue consists of small blood vessels, white blood cells and connective tissue. It provides the foundation for new tissue growth and plays an essential role in the healing process for eight weeks until new bone forms along the jawbone. 

Tips For Faster Recovery

The first few days after the extraction are the most important and will determine the overall healing process. If you follow these simple recommendations, your healing will be much faster and less painful. During the first two days, we recommend you rest and refrain from any physical activities. Keep a gauze on the area for a few hours after the extraction; you can change it every half hour. Avoid drinking hot liquids and don’t rinse your mouth out for 24 hours.

If you’re a smoker, stop smoking for at least three days while your mouth is healing. 

Other things that you can do include temporarily changing your diet to include more soft foods like soups and yogurt. Don’t use a straw as the suction dislodges the clot or granulation tissue. Keep up your daily oral hygiene habits: brush and floss your teeth. Be careful when brushing and flossing areas close to the extraction location, so you don’t dislodge the blood clot or granulation tissue. Include rinsing your mouth with warm salted water after the first 24 hours to limit the risk of forming harmful bacteria.

After two weeks, you can make an appointment to visit your dentist for a post-checkup to ensure that your extraction area is healing well.

If you notice that you’re healing slowly, your pain gets worse or you develop a fever, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist. You can follow up with us online or give us a call today to book your next dental appointment at one of our clinics. Dental Image Therapy Centres has two locations in Winnipeg, one in St. Vital Centre and the other at Garden City Shopping Centre.

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