Comments on: The healing process of a tooth extraction (a pictorial)

By: Shari

Shari — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:34:39 +0000

WHITE STUFF: Now I am not an expert in dentestry; however, I have had the unfortunate experience of having many unsavable teeth extracted. Including all four, very painful wisdom teeth. Furthermore, I am considered to be one of those annoying/ difficult patients that ask what is considered to be a lot of ‘unnecessary’ questions concerning my medical/ dental health.

The creepy white stuff that you are referring to is simply the blood clot, which takes on a white appearance after the saliva has leached out the red blood cells. The smell is the natural consequence of organic clot material fermenting in a warm, moist environment, which favours putrefaction. This is likewise normal. Please be assured that you did not swallow it in your sleep. The white stuff merely fades as part of the natural healing process.

Personally, whenever I get excessive swelling/ pain with any tooth extraction, I always follow-up with a course of antibiotics, and after about day 2 rinse a couple of times a day with warm [tap water warm] salt water about 2-4 times a day. The salt water will help the healing process, and sometimes it even alleviates the pain.

After the day of the extraction your pain/ discomfort should gradually subside. If it does not, or it gets worse, then you may have an infection, or a dry socket. It is best to consult your dentist/ doctor immediately, if that happens.

FURTHER INFO FOR SMOKERS: Smokers should wait 1-2 weeks after an extraction to resume smoking. As an ex-smoker, I realise that this can be a difficult task, so even if you can hold off for a week it will help the healing process.

I hope this information is useful, and it will help to alleviate some of the fears people experience when seeing the creepy white stuff.

By: Tera

Tera — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:22:22 +0000

Thank you for your pictures and information, I just had my first tooth removed and had questions about how it was suppose to look after and what the white stuff is thats forming on it and I have to stay your info cleared up my worries, thanks again!!

By: Tooth Extraction Update « The Woo Woo Teacup Journal

Tooth Extraction Update « The Woo Woo Teacup Journal — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:27:07 +0000

[...] did find one brave soul who posted daily shots of the healing process at her tooth extraction site. Sheila at Ma Vie Folle put my mind at ease. That white film? Apparently it’s normal, and the Atlanta Dental [...]

By: Kathryn Stoker

Kathryn Stoker — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:29:15 +0000

Ditto on all the other comments. Had #31 extracted wednesday along with a bone graft. Creaping out at the clumpy jelly stuff and looked at medical sites which don’t provide a whole lot of info on the healing process…glad to know I’m not alone. As crazy as it may seem, I appreciate your journaling process. Thank you.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:28:23 +0000

Another Thanks for the info on this. I’m relieved that this is normal, I’ve been dealing with the ‘white stuff’ for days, searching all over the internet as to what it could be. It’s been a week and tonight while rinsing my mouth out after dinner I noticed that parts of it are coming off, after freaking out for a few hours I found this. Thank you poster and everyone else that’s replied with helpful information.

By: sarah

sarah — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:50:36 +0000

aha! an explanation for the white stuff that i just saw after buying a mirror to check my extraction site from last week. just like everyone else, i got really nervous and ran to my computer to find some answers. yay for you posting this! i can sleep in peace now. thanks much!

By: Judy

Judy — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:28:30 +0000

thanks so much for putting your pictorial up, I had a molar removed monday and have the white jelly stuff over my extraction, I have been freaking since i noticed it earlier….i was thinking omg do i have an infection or a dry socket ahhh! I feel better now knowing it happens as part of the healing process. god bless you!

By: marcy

marcy — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:39:06 +0000

had extraction bone graft. graft got infected. have drainage tube now what an ordeal i am going through god bless thank you.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:52:17 +0000

Thanks so much for the pics! I had an extraction 4 days ago and was really freaking about that white crap! Thought it was first signs of infection or dry socket or something! I lost half of my white stuff today but still have half of it hanging on there. You’d think as stressful as an extraction is on people, dentists would try to prepare you for what to expect! I SEARCHED the web every which way and could find no reference to this white crap on my gum until I found you!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:38 +0000

Like everyone else, just wanted to say thank you. Had two teeth extracted in the past 3 weeks. First went fine, but had to go to the dentist yesterday morning for a treatment for dry socket on the second. Was feeling a little better today, went to check on it, and saw white stuff filling the gap. I’m so glad you posted this – maybe that means I’m back on track and healing normally now! Thank you for sharing your pictures!
(Now if only I had more vicodin…)