No, you should avoid touching your tooth extraction site with your tongue.
Immediately after a tooth extraction, a blood clot forms in the socket. This clot is crucial for healing. Touching the site, even with your tongue, can disrupt this delicate healing process.
Why You Should Keep Your Tongue Away
According to dental guidelines, it is important to keep your fingers and tongue away from the extraction site as much as possible. Here are the key reasons:
- Additional Bleeding: Touching the area can disturb the forming blood clot or tissue, leading to renewed or increased bleeding.
- Dislodge a Suture: If sutures (stitches) were used to close the gum tissue, touching them with your tongue can cause them to become loose or dislodged prematurely. This can affect healing and potentially require another visit to the dentist.
- Lead to Dry Socket: One of the most painful complications after extraction is dry socket (alveolar osteitis). This occurs when the blood clot is dislodged or dissolves before the site heals. Touching the site, especially frequently or forcefully, increases the risk of dislodging the clot, potentially leading to dry socket.
Healing After Extraction
Healing takes time, and protecting the extraction site is vital during the initial recovery period. This involves following post-operative instructions carefully, which typically include avoiding touching the area with anything, including your tongue, fingers, or foreign objects.
Key Takeaway: Resist the temptation to explore the extraction site with your tongue. While it's natural to feel curious about the gap, keeping your tongue away helps ensure proper healing and reduces the risk of complications like excessive bleeding, suture issues, and dry socket.
