How Long Does It Take to Heal After a Tooth Extraction?

If you have ever had a toothache, you know very well just how painful it is. Those who have experienced a toothache in the past will tell you that it’s one of the most extreme pains they have ever felt. Sometimes, the only treatment choice available to get rid of the pain is tooth extraction.

Tooth extraction surgery may sound too much, but sometimes it is the only choice left. Your dentist may suggest a tooth extraction for the below reasons:

Impaction
Periodontal and gum disease
Trauma
Tooth decay
Tooth overcrowding

Regardless of the reason, if you are having a single or multiple teeth removed you will probably wonder how much time it will take for the tooth extraction area to heal, and what can you do to accelerate the healing process.

How Long Does It Take for a Tooth Extraction Site to Heal?

If you are going to have a tooth extraction, obviously you will be worried about how much time it takes for the site to heal. Tooth extraction can be a painful dental procedure to recuperate from, so indeed the faster you can make a complete recovery, the better.

The time it takes to heal fully from a tooth extraction depends on the type and location of the tooth and your body’s healing ability. Typically, it takes between one and three months for your bone and gum tissues to heal fully after an extraction.

However, the positive news is that most people experience that within 1 – 5 days the pain subsides and they are able to recover and stay normally.

Tooth Extraction Healing Timeline – What to Expect?

The healing process after tooth extraction is different for every individual. Some people experience negligible discomfort after the procedure, while others have serious discomfort. Below is what you can expect after having a tooth extraction. 

First 24 Hours

Many things occur in the first 24 hours following your tooth extraction. Blood clots will develop, and the sutures in your mouth will help in the process of healing.

In the first 24 hours of the healing process, you may possibly go through some minor bleeding and pain. To help you get relief from it, you are usually given a prescription for a painkiller.

Within a day of extraction, you must be able to do non-strengthening activities, such as working an office job and driving. On the other hand, athletic activities may be restricted, and people who do physically demanding jobs may require to take more time off.

1-2 Days Post Tooth Extraction

The first two days after your extraction need the most attention, as this is the time when your mouth is experiencing intense healing. It’s very normal to experience some stiffness and bleeding at the extraction area.

3 Days After Tooth Extraction

The empty tooth area will have almost healed after around 3 days. You will have no further bleeding and very less swelling at this time. You may still feel some soreness or tenderness, but no discomfort or pain should be present.

1 Week After Tooth Extraction

Your clot should be completely formed in place after 7-10 days. If you have non-dissolving stitches, they will be removed. The stitches will dissolve on their own if they are dissolving ones. If you are experiencing bleeding or discomfort at this time in the healing process, contact your dentist to check if you require a follow-up appointment.

2 Week After Tooth Extraction

The area should effectively be completely healed after around 14 days. However, at the extraction site, the tissue will be sensitive and tender. Avoid chewing more food close to the extraction area and don’t brush this tissue very much. Even after your extraction site is almost healed, you still have a risk of damaging the new gum tissue that has developed or infection. 

3+ Week After Tooth Extraction

The healing process is significantly finished after 3-4 weeks. You may still feel some sensitivity at the extraction site, but this should not end up in major bleeding or pain.

At this time, you just have to make sure to avoid allowing debris or food to gather in your empty socket, which means flossing or cleaning properly, and irrigating the area to eliminate debris if needed.

Tips on Recovering From Tooth Extraction Surgery

Now that you know how much time it will take to recuperate after you have a tooth or teeth extracted, the next thing to consider is how to heal from tooth extraction surgery.

Listen to your dentist’s advice

One of the most essential things you can do when recovering from tooth extraction surgery, is to listen and follow your dentist’s advice post extraction about teeth care.

If your dentist advises you not to have certain foods for a few days, then ensure to follow as they have said. If they tell you to rest for 2 days, you are required to make proper arrangements to ensure you are not doing any vigorous exercise or heavy lifting for those 2 days.

Stop any bleeding

Tooth extraction surgery can sometimes result in swelling and bleeding, not only during the procedure but afterwards too. Some people may experience more bleeding than others. If you belong to this category of people, you need to ensure you implement the post extraction advice about bleeding given to you.

The most common method of stopping any bleeding post-surgery is to gently bite down on a piece of surgical sterile gauze. A pack of this gauze is always given to you at the end of your procedure.

If you are frequently changing the gauze and/or, after 24 hours you are still bleeding heavily, contact a medical expert or your dentist and take their professional advice.

Avoid eating hard foods

After you had tooth extraction surgery, for a few days you must eat only soft and cool foods to prevent any discomfort and pain.

Avoid crunchy and tough foods, and rather eat softer foods like soup, oats, smoothies, risotto, and similar foods. Talking about temperature, find foods which are cool, but not cold, as extreme temperatures can also result in much pain if they make contact with the extraction area.

Rest and keep your head elevated for at least a day

Another vital tip which will also aid in speeding up the healing process after a tooth extraction, is to keep and rest your head raised for at least a day after the removal.

Rest is required for your body to recover and keeping the head raised will refrain blood from rushing to the surgery site which could make stopping the bleeding difficult to achieve after extraction.

If you have any concerns or questions about recovering from tooth extraction, contact our professional yet friendly team at Rouse Hill Smiles or book an appointment today.