There happen to be several reasons why the wisdom teeth holes may look black. They include, among others, a blood clot that later dries up to turn black, foodstuffs that might have lodged in the wisdom teeth holes, discoloration due to blood spreading beneath the tissue, and possible infections that may cause the darkening of the tissue beneath the tooth hole.
Have you had your wisdom tooth extracted in the past, and surprisingly the new hole turned black?
Wisdom teeth erupt last from the gums being the last molar. Consequently, there may be little space left in the gums to accommodate them. Due to the discomfort associated with their growth, most dentists may advise the removal of wisdom teeth.
Upon extraction of the wisdom teeth, many dentists have received concerns from their clients about the color of the tooth hole turning black.
Close to 90% percent of the patients operated on worldwide later expressed this concern. This condition may get expected, but most people experiencing it may be alarmed or disturbed.
Medically, there are several explanations for this black color in the hole of an extracted wisdom tooth. Herein, we will discuss in detail the various causes and possible remedial measures for you to undertake.
So what makes your wisdom tooth hole black?
1. Blood clot
After removing the wisdom tooth, a blood clot may form on the gum where you had an extraction.
The blood clot plays a significant role. It stops bleeding, initiates the much-needed healing process, protects the bone, and helps the formation of a new bone and tissue growth that eventually lead to perfect healing.
You should do your best to protect this blood clot since its removal could expose the underlying jaw bone, which may spell trouble.
Eventually, this blood clot dries, and you may notice it turns entirely black and dark. It still plays its protective and healing role to your jaw even when dried up and should not be dislodged. Dislodging it may cause a dry socket which may earn you another visit to your dentist.
In the earlier stages, tenderness, slight swelling, and seeping blood mixed with saliva from the clot may usually occur. Therefore your dentist may advise you to rinse your mouth with a saltwater mixture frequently carefully.
The dentist may also recommend you against puncturing the clot intentionally or accidentally until it heals fully and on its own.
2. Food particles stuck in the wisdom hole
The black color you see in your wisdom tooth hole may occur due to a food particle that got lodged there. This food particle maybe not be too uncomfortable to you, in which case you can leave them undisturbed to dislodge on their own.
On the contrary, some food particles lodged in the hole of the wisdom teeth may be particularly uncomfortable, annoying, and even painful.
When this happens, you may have to devise a way to dislodge the food particle without disturbing the underlying blood clot.
Several specialists have, over time, prescribed some DIY methods. These methods may come in handy to salvage this common problem and remove food particles lodged in wisdom teeth holes.
We’ll briefly mention these methods below:
- Rinse carefully with salty water
- Rinse carefully with herbal tea
- Use a gentle mouthwash when rinsing your mouth
- Use a warm water syringe directed at the lodged food particle to dislodge it
- Use a warm water spray bottle with the spraying directed at the lodged particle
- An oral pulsating irrigator
- Gentle strokes with a new soft-bristled brush
- A cotton swab may remove the lodged particles
Also, it may be helpful to avoid the food particles from lodging in the tooth hole in the first place.
This situation may be possible if you: don’t chew near the tooth hole, rinse your mouth after eating and eat a soft diet after wisdom tooth removal.
3. Discoloration
In most cases, discoloration follows the swelling in the wisdom tooth hole. The development of this black pigmentation may be due to blood spreading below the tissue.
This scenario occurs very commonly after a wisdom tooth removal operation. You may apply heat therapy to the area to speed up the removal of the discoloring element.
This heat may probably be applied through gurgling or constantly rinsing the mouth with warm water.
4. Post-operative infections
After the dentist extracts your wisdom tooth, the resultant exposed tissue in the gum may get infected.
This condition could happen if, after the surgery, the swelling or the blood clot is disturbed. After the blood clot comes into contact with the contamination, it may result in an infection.
Gum and dental infections are ordinary, and people who have had their teeth extracted are no exceptions.
Infected tissues tend to have different pigmentations depending on the type of infectious organisms infesting them. The infection may result in black or dark color in the hole of the wisdom tooth.
In case of an infection, you should visit a dentist and receive proper attention that may include cleaning and drug prescriptions that would help combat the tooth hole infection.
We will express the leading causes of a black wisdom tooth hole in the table below:
| Causes of a black wisdom tooth hole | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Blood clot |
| 2 | Food particles |
| 3 | Discoloration |
| 4 | Infections |
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Can wisdom teeth rot other teeth?
Probably possible since wisdom teeth are furthest and more challenging to clean than other teeth. This difficulty may cause them problems that may spread to or affect other teeth.
What color should wisdom teeth holes be?
It should turn out black or dark, which happens after the tooth hole heals and dries up.
Why is my wisdom tooth a dark gray color?
This color may be due to some factor that cuts blood flow from the tooth. This condition may result in the tooth dying and turning gray such as trauma.
Conclusion
Wisdom teeth tend to lack enough space in the jaw bone by the time they grow.
This space limitation may make their growth quite painful and uncomfortable. Consequently, having them pulled out is a decision most of us have to make.
The resultant hole during and after healing should have a black or dark color caused by a blood clot that dries up after complete healing.
When similar pigmentation appears in the tooth hole that may not align with the normal healing process, you should apply the required medical measures. Therefore a black wisdom tooth hole should not necessarily be a cause for alarm.
