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Bad breath after your wisdom teeth are removed can cause you to worry. However, this bad odour is perfectly normal and is mostly due to the blood clotting over the extraction site. This is part of the healing process. If the smell goes away after you rinse your mouth with salt water, there isn’t much to worry about. The odour usually only remains for 24 or 48 hours. But if the bad breath persists, you might need to visit your dentist immediately. It may be an infection or some other harmful deposit on your teeth or in the extraction site. There are several reasons why your breath might smell bad right after tooth removal. We’ll discuss them in detail and talk about what you can do to deal with them. 4 Potential Causes For Bad Breath After Wisdom Teeth RemovalThere are 4 main causes that can cause bad breath. Some are obvious and some are not. 1. Bleeding & Blood ClotsIt is common for the extraction site to bleed right after the wisdom tooth is pulled out. This can result in an unpleasant taste in your mouth, associated with the bad breath in question. When this blood clots in the mouth, it can give a place for anaerobic bacteria to ferment and release the unpleasant odour. This can be dealt with by softly rinsing your mouth to wash the clot. Once the bleeding stops, you can keep slowly sipping water to keep your mouth fresh. Mouthwash should be avoided, especially for the first 24 hours. Dentists recommend warm salt water to rinse the mouth only once the 24-hour mark has passed, to help with the pain and swollen gums. 2. Lack of Thorough CleaningThe lack of thorough brushing and flossing is another prime reason why people get bad breath. The teeth and gums are sensitive right after a wisdom tooth extraction surgery, and it is vital that the extraction site remains undisturbed during the initial healing stage. This can lead to food debris buildup in the mouth, bacteria festering, and other problems that cause odour. It is usually advised that if the patients must, they should use soft-bristled toothbrushes and gargle with lukewarm water. Saltwater can also be used after the 24-hour mark to help better clean the mouth.
3. Dry SocketBad breath or bad taste right after the extraction procedure is normal, but after two or four days it might mean that you have a dry socket. A dry socket occurs when the blood clot that is supposed to protect and heal the extraction site somehow comes out of the socket, leaving the site unprotected. The bone and nerve tissues are then exposed, causing intense throbbing pain to the patient and resulting in bad breath. If you look closely, you can see the exposed bone, rather than a blood clot at the extraction site. A dry socket is one of the more common complications that occur after wisdom tooth removal and can occur from three to five days after surgery. Risks of Dry SocketThe risk for dry socket increases significantly if:
Dry socket is a serious condition as it can lead to severe infections and other dental diseases. Food debris can get lodged into the socket, giving bacteria the perfect place to fester. You should visit your dentist immediately if you feel that you’ve developed a dry socket. They can clean any debris out and cover it with a medicated dressing to protect it. The dressing may be removed or replaced until the socket heals. 4. MedicationYes, your pain meds can also be the root cause of your mouth letting out a bad odour. But that does not mean that you stop taking the necessary medication. Otherwise, you could be subject to a killer toothache. A dry mouth is a common side effect of pain medications. Your saliva is your mouth’s natural defence against bacteria that may cause bad breath, and the lack of it may aggravate the problem even further. Bacteria can quickly set in a dry mouth and thus, cause bad breath. How do I Get Rid of Bad Breath?The bad breath caused by the removal of wisdom teeth usually diminishes as the extraction site heals, but in case it doesn’t, you should immediately seek medical attention. However, in the time your wound is healing after wisdom teeth removal, the initial 48 hours, there are several steps you can take to minimize the bad breath, if not get completely rid of it. Steps to Prevent Bad Breath
Why Remove Wisdom Teeth at All?There is a long list of complications that can arise during or after the removal of wisdom teeth. So the question arises: Why remove wisdom teeth at all? The answer is simple — to prevent impaction. Wisdom teeth carry a risk of being impacted, that is, when they don’t have room to grow, they can cause pain, lead to infection, or cause other dental problems. Some dentists recommend removing the wisdom teeth, even if they aren’t causing any problems, to prevent future problems. The third molars are given the name “wisdom teeth” and are the last of your teeth to erupt. Sometimes there isn’t much room for them in your jaw, so they get stuck below the surface of the gums, growing at slightly or drastically tilted angles. However, that is not always the case. The tilted wisdom teeth are known as impacted wisdom teeth, erupting either partially or not at all. An impacted wisdom tooth is likely to cause problems such as:
If any of these problems arise, the wisdom tooth needs to be pulled out. The extraction process doesn’t result in any long-term complications, but short term only. These problems include:
These problems get healed with time, though. How Dentists Remove Wisdom TeethTo remove wisdom teeth:
Soon after follows an intricate process of healing the extraction site, where the problem of bad breath may arise. ConclusionBad breath when you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed can be a problem. People are usually concerned more with getting rid of the smell, instead of healing their dental wounds. If you follow the tips above on dealing with bad breath, it might help you quickly get rid of this problem. Remember, the longer bacteria can fester in your mouth, the worse your breath will smell! So, bear with it for a few days, and you can kick that bacteria out soon after. You should seek your dentist’s advice if the odour becomes unbearable or if you simply want them to clean your teeth for you. Have you experienced any issues with bad breath when having your Wisdom teeth out? By Dr Veronica RollerCreated at November 16, 2018, Updated at October 13, 2021 Does bad taste in mouth mean dry socket?The two most common signs of a dry socket, therefore, are pain in the jaw and ear, and the foul taste and odor from the blood clot. A dry socket can either be partial or complete, that is, only a portion of the blood clot is destroyed or the entire blood clot is affected.
Why does my mouth taste and smell bad after wisdom teeth removal?Bad breath after a tooth extraction is sometimes caused by bacteria infecting the wound left by the extracted tooth. Many forms of oral bacteria create foul-smelling chemicals that are carried out of your mouth by your breath. In these cases, the bad breath is often accompanied by a fever, pus, and severe pain.
Can wisdom teeth cause weird taste?Unpleasant Taste in Mouth/Bad Breath
As mentioned, an impacted wisdom may create a breeding haven for bacteria leading to infections, cysts or decay. When that happens, it can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth and even cause bad breath (halitosis).
Is it normal to have a metallic taste after wisdom teeth removal?If you have recently had an injury in your mouth, the taste is probably from the iron in your blood. It doesn't have to be a big injury; even a small bite on your tongue can bring about that irritating metallic taste. Surgeries such as wisdom teeth removal and tonsillectomy may also cause the metallic taste.
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