After a tooth is extracted, the empty socket where the tooth was will begin to heal. This usually takes a few days. During this time, you may have some bleeding and soreness. To help with this, your dentist may give you a gauze pad to bite on and instructions on how to use it. They may also prescribe you pain medication. It's important to take these as directed. Once the bleeding has stopped and the pain has subsided, you'll need to take care of the extraction site as it heals. This includes eating soft foods, avoiding alcohol, and not smoking. You should also brush and floss your teeth as normal, being careful to avoid the extraction site. Within a few days, the extraction site should begin to close up. The healing process is complete when the socket has fully closed and the area has healed. This usually takes a few weeks.