How to Remove Food from Extracted Wisdom Teeth Sockets

Extracting wisdom teeth often leaves large holes in your gums and the bone beneath them. The hole is the space where roots have developed; in some cases the hole may be the size of an entire molar.^[1] Most surgeons will use stitches to close these holes; however, in some cases stitches aren't used, and in these cases you can expect certain complications. Food particles tend to get stuck in these holes, and merely rinsing with salt water may not successfully clean them out. Learning how to properly clean and care for gum wounds can help prevent infection and complications during the healing process.

EditSteps

EditCaring for Your Wound Immediately After Surgery

1. Ask your surgeon whether sutures were used. If your surgeon closed the wounds with stitches, food won't be able to get in the holes. You may see particles near the extraction sites that look grey, black, blue, green, or yellow. This is normal discoloration and is part of the healing process.^[2]
   
2. Avoid contact with the wound for the remainder of the day. Thoroughly brush and floss the rest of your mouth, but avoid the teeth closest to the wound.^[3]
   
3. Rinse very gently with saltwater for the first 48 hours. It's okay to rinse the first day, but you have to take certain precautions.^[4]
   
   • Combine 1/4 teaspoon salt with one cup of warm water. Stir it well to mix.
   • Avoid swishing the saltwater rinse in your mouth or spitting it out. Gently move your head to move the rinse around your mouth or use your tongue to help move the saline solution around.
   • After rinsing, lean over the sink and open your mouth to let the rinse fall out. Don't spit.
   • Your doctor may also give you chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex, Periogard) to rinse with. This is a germicidal mouthwash that helps kill bacteria.^[5]
4. Do not use fingers or any foreign objects to remove food. Don't use your tongue to prod the hole, either. Doing this may introduce bacteria to the wound, and could disrupt the healing tissue.^[6] Instead, stick to salt water rinses to remove food particles.
   
5. Avoid smoking and using straws. Any kind of suction activity in the mouth could dislodge blood clots, causing a painful dry socket and potentially leading to infection.^[7]
   

EditRinsing After the First Day

1. Make a salt water rinse. Salt water rinses are useful for cleaning wounds in the mouth, removing food, and reducing pain and inflammation.
   
   • Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt in eight ounces of water.
   • Stir completely, so that the salt is well-dissolved in the water.
2. Rinse gently using the salt water rinse, until the solution is completely used. You may wish to focus your rinsing action on the affected side of your mouth, to most effectively remove debris and provide inflammation relief.^[8]
   
3. Repeat the rinse procedure every two hours and after every meal. You'll also want to rinse thoroughly before you go to sleep. Doing this will reduce inflammation and help ensure that your wound is kept clean and can heal properly.^[9]
   
4. Use a syringe if directed. Using a syringe may help you control the flow of water and allow you to clean your wound more efficiently; however, if not used properly, an irrigator or syringe can dislodge the blood clot forming to heal the tissue. Ask your dentist whether you should use one.^[10]
   
   • Fill the syringe with lukewarm water. You may also use the saltwater solution described above.
   • Aim the tip of the syringe as close as possible to the site of your wound without actually touching it.
   • Flush the site of the wound from any necessary angles to thoroughly clean the wound and prevent infection. Do not push too forcefully — expelling a powerful jet of water directly into the socket could be harmful.

EditKnowing What to Expect After the First Day

1. Don't panic. Food that gets caught in a wisdom teeth wound may be uncomfortable, but it alone should not cause an infection. Healing can still take place even if food gets caught, and it's more important to avoid touching or probing the wound.^[11]
   
2. Don't confuse a clot with food. Clots in the gums may appear gray and fibrous, like food particles. Cleaning too vigorously in this case may remove the clot and cause further complications.^[12]
   
3. Stick to soft foods. This is especially important during the first 24 hours after surgery. Gradually move from soft foods to semi-soft foods as your wound heals. It's generally best to avoid hard, chewy, crunchy, and spicy foods, as these are most prone to pooling in the socket and causing irritation or infection.^[13]
   
   • Chew on the opposite side or your mouth from the extraction site.
   • Avoid eating foods that are too hot or cold foods. Go for room temperature foods during the first two days.
4. Avoid sources of contamination. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Don't shake hands with people for a week or so. Don't share toothbrushes or other implements with others. You want to make sure that you don't pick up a secondary infection that could tax your immune system.
   
5. Know when to seek professional help. Some bleeding will be common over the first few days following a tooth extraction. If you experience any of the following symptoms, however, you should contact your dentist or oral surgeon immediately.^[14]
   
   • Excessive bleeding (more than a slow ooze)
   • Pus in the wound
   • Difficulty swallowing/breathing
   • Fever
   • Swelling that increases after two or three days
   • Blood or pus in nasal mucus
   • Throbbing, dull pain after the first 48 hours
   • Bad breath after three days
   • Pain that is not reduced after taking painkillers

EditVideo

EditTips

• Double check each hole by flushing for a few more seconds to get all the food out. The holes can be deeper than you think.
• As an alternative to a syringe, use a spray bottle and change the nozzle setting to shoot directly to the hole.
• This method works especially well if the wisdom teeth were impacted (hadn't yet broken the skin) and an incision had to be made to remove them, but it's worth trying this method if they were extracted by another means.

EditWarnings

• Only begin this process when you can comfortably open your mouth.
• This process is not to be used in place of anything your surgeon instructs you to do. Follow your surgeon's advice closely and let him or her know about any complications.
• If you experience any pain during this process, consult your surgeon before continuing.
• Make sure the instruments you use are sterile, single-use instruments.

EditThings You'll Need

• Warm water
• Salt
• Syringe (sterile)

EditRelated wikiHows

• Recover after Wisdom Teeth Surgery
• Deal With Wisdom Teeth Coming In

EditSources and Citations

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