|

Bad Breath After Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Wisdom teeth extraction is a common surgery to remove the extra back molars. The wisdom teeth are often impacted which means the removal is surgical and can involve removal of some bone and soft tissue. Recovery after surgery in the mouth can be sometimes be difficult and take days.

Healing after the wisdom teeth can be a painful (and stinky) experience! It is common to have bad breath after wisdom teeth removal. It I also common to have bad taste after wisdom tooth removal.

If you are experiencing bad breather taste after your surgery – then read on to find out the causes and how to deal with it.

Common Symptoms Experienced After Wisdom Removal

  • Swelling
  • Bad Breath and Smells
  • Bad tastes
  • Numbing
  • Pain
  • Limited jaw opening
  • Muscle and jaw soreness
  • Bruising

Fixes for Bad Breath After Wisdom Teeth Extraction

  • Frequently use a warm salt water rinse to help reduce the total number of bacteria present
  • Use a small soft toothbrush to clean the area as gently as possibly to get rid of plaque and build up
  • If there is infection consult your dental surgeon or doctor about remedies to fix. Sometimes this involves antibiotics!
  • Return to have the stitches removed if they are trapping food. Some stitches are dissolving and will disappear by themselves. Usually if non dissolving stitches are used your Dentist or Surgeon will arrange to see you for a follow up appointment to review healing and remove. Give the office a call for peace of mind if you are unsure!
  • Once your dentist or doctor says that it is healed – use a mouth rinse to kill bacteria, wash away trapped food, and improve the breath
  • These steps also apply to people who have bad tastes after their wisdom tooth removal.
bad breath after wisdom tooth removal is not uncommon - luckily the fixes are typically simple
Fixing bad breath after wisdom teeth removal could be as simple as salt water, or as complex as antibiotics or further surgery.

Causes of Bad Breath After Wisdom Tooth Surgery

After you have your wisdom teeth removed, there is often a period of 7-10 days of slow healing. During this time it is common to experience bad breath.

Causes of the bad breath when your wisdom teeth are removed can be either completely normal, or a problem that you should seek assistance with from your dental surgeon.

Normal bad breath after wisdom tooth removal

As we heal there is a blood clot and then the body produces many different types of tastes and smells as it heals. Normal healing can sometimes taste or smell metallic or just stink.

As the scab comes away and the extraction site heals – expect discomfort and some odour. This is temporary and will pass soon. See tips below to find out how to manage the smell to make it less offensive to yourself and others.

Problematic bad breath after wisdom tooth removal can be upsetting – there are usually common causes that can be easily addressed at home or with your usual dentist.

Problem bad breath after wisdom teeth removal

  • Food and Debris getting caught — If food gets caught in the place where the tooth used to be – it can stagnate and become quite stinky. Gently rinsing with a salt water rinse can help fix this cause of bad breath. If a gentle rinse does not cut it – you will need to seek advice from your dental surgeon about the best way to clear food from the extraction site. If you allow food to sit there bacteria will grow – and could delay your healing!
  • There is Infection Taste or Pus— if you are unfortunate you may develop an infection in the site of the tooth extraction. Infections following routine dental extractions are actually quite rare – but if they do happen they can be serious. If a bad smell or pain persists – contact your surgeon as soon as possible. If there is swelling from the site – consider seeking emergency care. An untreated infection can cause serious harm to health. Common signs of infection include swelling, heat in the area, pus, and generally feeling unwell.
  • Bad Metal Taste – sometimes you can get a metallic taste After Wisdom Teeth extraction. This could be either normal healing, infection as discussed above – or even be related to the nerve that sits near lower wisdom teeth! It’s not uncommon for wisdom teeth removal to temporarily or more permanently result in damage to the nerves that run close to the roots of the teeth. If you get a persistent metallic taste or symptoms of prolonged numbing for days after the wisdom tooth extraction – it is advisable to contact your oral surgeon so they can assess you and let you know how your recovery may go.

Similar Posts