What does swelling on the gums after tooth extraction indicate?
Patient: I had a tooth extracted 10 days ago and I went to the dentist 3 days ago and he said I was healing really well. Today I am quite sore and I just loooked and it looks like the side of my gum is splitting and a little swollen, Is this normal? I understand a split on the top is normal since that’s where the gum is growing over the bone graft, but on the side seems a little strange to me. Doctor: Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.As it is already 10 days so the gum must have undergone initial healing by now. So by now, the soreness and inflammation should have subsided. However, at times there can be injury to the healing area with any food that is hard and can cause inflammation. Food lodgement in that area can cause slight infection. So my suggestion is to do warm saline gargles and antiseptic mouthwash gargles. Do not let food particles accumulate in that area. Take anti-inflammatory painkillers like Advil.If it does not improve in 2 to 3 days then get it checked by your Dentist. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.Regards,Dr. Honey Arora