What does a healthy clot look like and how long does it stay?

Question

Had molar removed 4 days ago, clot is in like a crater (hole where tooth was but very low down) is dark and has white/yellow stuff on top. seems to be disappearing more each few hours though. Am scared I may be getting dry socket as I geta slight ache/sharp pain every now and then.

Also my cheek is still swollen, is this normal??

When should the clot dissolve? I know it does it on it's own, but this one seems to be going fast. I am doing gentle salt rinses no mouthwash on dentist orders, brushing the rest of my teeth gently still, but have bad breath from the site.

Answer 1

Rose, everything you are experiencing is completely normal and is part of the average healing period. Try using a cold compress to help if the extraction site begins to throb, this will help control any discomfort and also help with the swelling. You may always have a small indentation where your tooth was extracted, but your socket will heal, this healing process can take the next few weeks and even moths to fully occur but your extraction sounds to be healing nicely at the moment. Continue with your salt water rinses to ensure that any food particles are being flushed out of the socket as this could be the cause of the unpleasant breath. If you notice any changes, be sure to let your dentist know as it could be a sign of an infection begining to develop. Good luck!

Answer 2

The color that your seeing is the normal healing process. The clot will eventually cover over as the new tissue forms. The "crater" will be there for awhile, it may take several months for this to fill completely in, although there may always be a slight indentation where the tooth was.

You can brush your teeth, gums, tongue and cheeks along with flossing all of your teeth normally, just gently around this area so as not to disturb the clot. The bad breath is probably food particles that have gotten lodged in the folds of the socket area and is not uncommon. You can do "vigorous" warm salt water (as warm as you can stand it, without burning your mouth, is best) rinses now to make sure to remove any food particles from the area. If you notice redness, throbbing, excessive swelling or oozing at the extraction site, you may need to let the dentist evaluate this as these are signs of an infection. From what you've said, I think your healing nicely.

Be sure to continue with the warm salt water rinses and always swish well after eating anything to remove any food particles that may get trapped.

Hope I've been of some help and good luck! You'll be back to normal in a few more days!

Additional information: You could also do some exercises to help regain the full function of your mouth that will ease the soreness and reduce the swelling. Heat two damp towels in the microwave to use as hot compresses. Even though you only had one molar extracted, both sides of your jaw were stretched open during the procedure. Place a towel on each side of the face at the jaw area, as the heat works to relax the muscle, start to open and close your mouth, stretching a little wider each time. Do this several times a day along with the warm salt water rinses. Patients tell me they feel relief immediately after doing these exercises. It's also better to use a moist heat now, ice only helps reduce the swelling during the first 24 hours, after that it's heat.

Answer 3

HELLO ROSE,
EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID IS HAPPENING NORMALLY. DRY SOCKET IS EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND IT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED 24-48 HOURS AFTER THE EXTRACTION. A SLIGHT ACHE NOW AND THEN IS ALSO NORMAL.
THE ENTIRE AREA WILL GRADUALLY TURN VERY LIGHT PINK AND BECOME JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE GUMS.

Answer 4

the white and yellow stuff could be an infection. I'd call the
dentist