White Gum Post-Extraction Necrosis Gingivitis or Skin Shedding?

[KyleReyn]

Hi,

I've been researching all over the internet but can't get the definite answer. I got my 2nd molar extracted last thursday. On that very night. I noticed a tiny spot of blood in the center of the gum beside the extraction site then the area kinda got more bruised and the next morning I noticed that section of the gum has turned white. The white is not on the extraction hole which is just dried up blood clot but on the gum itself. Is it just skin shedding or necrotizing gingavitis? The tooth has broken a week before and it was infected and the gum has swelled. It got extraction without taking antibiotic. The doctor didn't see the white spot but just told me to take Clindamycin to make sure when I called him 2 days later.

Right now the white area in my gum is gone. But I'd like to understand what it is exactly so next time I'd know whether it is normal or an infection. I heard that gum beside extraction site can flatten and shed skin on top. Does this happens overnight enough to cause the white gum area the next day? Or is is bacteria destroying the gum overnight (necrotizing gingivitis)? If the latter why so fast? Thanks.

 

[KyleReyn]

I hope to get a quick reply on this so I can decide whether to stop taking Clindamycin because I'm afraid it can cause pseudomembranous colitis where you could even lose your colon. But if the white area in the gum is just normal shedding of skin and I don't have infection. I can stop taking it. Already took it for 2 days and a 1/4 day. Dosing is 150mm Clindamycin every 6 hour. I don't want to take it for 7 more days if I have no infection at all. And this won't cause antibiotic resistance at all because there is no bacteria in the first place. Isn't it? What other dental forums have many participants such that I can quickly get one replied? Thanks.

Hi,

I've been researching all over the internet but can't get the definite answer. I got my 2nd molar extracted last thursday. On that very night. I noticed a tiny spot of blood in the center of the gum beside the extraction site then the area kinda got more bruised and the next morning I noticed that section of the gum has turned white. The white is not on the extraction hole which is just dried up blood clot but on the gum itself. Is it just skin shedding or necrotizing gingavitis? The tooth has broken a week before and it was infected and the gum has swelled. It got extraction without taking antibiotic. The doctor didn't see the white spot but just told me to take Clindamycin to make sure when I called him 2 days later.

Right now the white area in my gum is gone. But I'd like to understand what it is exactly so next time I'd know whether it is normal or an infection. I heard that gum beside extraction site can flatten and shed skin on top. Does this happens overnight enough to cause the white gum area the next day? Or is is bacteria destroying the gum overnight (necrotizing gingivitis)? If the latter why so fast? Thanks.

 

[losinmuhteefs]

I hope to get a quick reply on this so I can decide whether to stop taking Clindamycin because I'm afraid it can cause pseudomembranous colitis where you could even lose your colon. But if the white area in the gum is just normal shedding of skin and I don't have infection. I can stop taking it. Already took it for 2 days and a 1/4 day. Dosing is 150mm Clindamycin every 6 hour. I don't want to take it for 7 more days if I have no infection at all. And this won't cause antibiotic resistance at all because there is no bacteria in the first place. Isn't it? What other dental forums have many participants such that I can quickly get one replied? Thanks.

LOL I have taken Clindamycin at least 3 times. And my dose was twice as high as yours. No probs, just a lil diarrhea. Immodium helped. As long as you are healthy otherwise, the chances of you getting that condition are like winning $10,000 on a lottery scratch card. Not very likely.

You don't HAVE to take your antibiotic. But it may take a LOT longer to heal if you don't, and your infection could worsen possibly. So just take it and don't worry about it, or don't take it and let your body do the healing. But always follow up if it feels like it's getting worse in there.

And no you don't have necrotizing gingivitis. That is usually a whole mouth condition and it's not common. You had an extraction and infection, it will just take time to heal so stop worrying about it.

 

[KyleReyn]

LOL I have taken Clindamycin at least 3 times. And my dose was twice as high as yours. No probs, just a lil diarrhea. Immodium helped. As long as you are healthy otherwise, the chances of you getting that condition are like winning $10,000 on a lottery scratch card. Not very likely.

You don't HAVE to take your antibiotic. But it may take a LOT longer to heal if you don't, and your infection could worsen possibly. So just take it and don't worry about it, or don't take it and let your body do the healing. But always follow up if it feels like it's getting worse in there.

And no you don't have necrotizing gingivitis. That is usually a whole mouth condition and it's not common. You had an extraction and infection, it will just take time to heal so stop worrying about it.

It may not even be infection. Maybe some gum skin being shed off because the adjacent gum has to flatten out which cause the white patch? Does this happen overnight??

 

[losinmuhteefs]

The white coating or white patch you describe is normal. It's a normal part of the healing process. As it heals the clot area may get darker and change to different colors too, so stop looking in there and let it heal.

 

[KyleReyn]

The white coating or white patch you describe is normal. It's a normal part of the healing process. As it heals the clot area may get darker and change to different colors too, so stop looking in there and let it heal.

But the white coating or white patch was not located in the socket but on the adjacent gum where the previous wisdom tooth was extracted a decade ago. Two weeks ago there was infection in the gum because of the tooth cracking and pus coming out. Extraction of the 2nd molar was done with the infection still present.. and the adjacent gum just turned white the next day after red bruise started popping up at that patch of gum... does infection turn gum white? maybe the bacteria eating up the red cells?

 

[losinmuhteefs]

If you are worried about infection still, why are you not taking your clindamycin?