How long does bad breath last after wisdom teeth removal

If you’ve had a tooth extraction or some kind of oral surgery at our dentist in Phoenix center, you may have noticed some stinky breath. Mouth odor after oral surgery is common and not necessarily something to worry about. However, you always want to make sure the odor isn’t a sign of something more serious, either in general or related to your healing process. 

Let’s learn more about some of the general causes of mouth odor, as well as those related to mouth odor after oral surgery. 

General Causes of Mouth Odor

If you have frequently experienced mouth odor, there are some common culprits. The root causes of mouth odor tend to be issues stemming from the gums, teeth, or acid reflux. 

Gums and teeth cause mouth odor when they aren’t being tended to and cleaned regularly and properly. If you don’t brush your teeth well and get regular dental cleanings, plaque can accumulate and harden into tartar. 

The rough surface of tartar promotes further plaque accumulation. In addition, you’ll also have tiny particles of food stuck between your teeth that can rot over time. The bacteria in plaque combined with the rotting bits of food in your mouth cause an unpleasant odor.

Your tongue also can trap bacteria that produce odors. In fact, Halitosis (bad breath) is mostly caused by sulfur-producing bacteria that normally live on the surface of the tongue. Sometimes, these bacteria start to break down proteins at a very high rate and stinky “volatile sulfur compounds” (VSC) are released from the back of the tongue and throat.

Acid reflux is the backward flow of stomach contents such as undigested food, regurgitated bile, and stomach acids into your esophagus. This can lead to bad breath. Most people notice other signs first, like heartburn or a sore throat. But if you notice these in conjunction with bad breath, it’s definitely time to see a doctor. Acid reflux can cause serious damage to your teeth and gums if left untreated. 

Mouth Odor After Oral Surgery

Mouth odor after surgery may indicate normal healing – or something more serious. Make sure to keep your dentist notified of any issues after a tooth extraction or other oral surgery. 

Bleeding

One reason bad breath and oral surgery go hand in hand is because of the increased risk of bleeding. If you notice your breath smells and you’re still bleeding, it might be helpful to drink extra water. However, if your bleeding doesn’t slow within a day or two, contact our dental office for assistance.

Infection

If you’re not healing well after your oral surgery, the wound may become infected. Signs of an infection include bad breath, fever, pus from the wound, and severe pain. If you show any signs of infection, please contact us immediately for treatment. 

Dry Mouth

“Xerostomia,” AKA “dry mouth”, is caused by reduced salivary flow. Following oral surgery, it’s fairly common to experience dry mouth as a side effect of pain medications. When your mouth is dry, bacteria can accumulate. And needless to say, bacteria do not smell good.

Once you stop taking your pain medications as you heal, your dry mouth will resolve itself. In the meantime, we recommend increasing your daily water/fluid intake. 

See a Dentist Today

If you are experiencing mouth odor and you haven’t had recent oral surgery, schedule an appointment today. We can help you get to the source of the issue and provide you with a cleaning and a plan for better breath. If you are experiencing any concerns of mouth odor after oral surgery, contact us right away to assist.

Bad breath after wisdom teeth removal? A lot of things could happen after the wisdom teeth extractions, especially if your dentist removes all of them at the same time.

Starting with the uncomfortable pain.

But, there is something in particular that bothers some patients when wisdom teeth are removed.

They wonder why their breath began to smell bad after r the extractions.

Well, there are many factors that could have an influence on you having bad breath after the wisdom teeth extraction.

First of all, dental hygiene needs to be great.

There are chances of patients having poor hygiene not cleaning out all small food particles that get stuck in the mouth after every meal.

The remaining food particles in the mouth can cause such rotten smell in it.

However, rather it is a type of germs that gives you bad breath.

So, in rare cases, patients wonder about bad breath after wisdom teeth removal.

It happens and it is quite common. Actually, most of the time it gets back to normal as the extractions areas heal.

Your breath can smell awful; there is no doubt. But, don’t worry and don’t jump to conclusions yet.

It can be due to a number of reasons, and not all of those are terrible.

How Do You Know If You Have Dry Socket?

Some patients may be more likely to get dry socket after wisdom teeth extractions. And it can be a reason for you to have bad breath. That includes:

  • Patients who smoke a lot.
  • People having poor oral hygiene.
  • Women using birth control pills.
  • If you have a history of dry socket after teeth removals.
  • Patients that rinse and spit a lot or drink through straws after tooth removal.
  • Patients with wisdom teeth extraction.

If you just had a teeth removal surgery, you will need to follow the instructions of your dentist.

Plus, tell your dentist if you are using any drugs or birth control pills.

Actually, you need to tell your dentist if you are taking any kind of pills or medicines.

Wisdom teeth extraction may seem like a straightforward and easy procedure.

But if you don’t follow the rules after the procedure, bad things could happen.

So, one of the most important rules here is to quit smoking until the wounds heal.

The dry socket could be responsible for your bad breath.

Bleeding After Tooth Extraction

Wisdom molars extractions areas may have to bleed, and this can occur during the first couple of days.

It can happen for the first two days after the extractions.

This flow of blood in your mouth can cause both unpleasant breath in the mouth and an uncomfortable metallic taste.

Patients having these problems can feel uncomfortable for a couple of days and then start feeling better as the area heals.

The lack of refreshment and the blood clot can create an awful odor inside your mouth.

So, if you have bad breath probably is due to this, but don’t worry.

It is normal to bleed the first 48 hours after your wisdom teeth were removed.

So, the best you can do during this period is waiting for the wounds to heal.

Then if nothing positive happens after that time, you can call your dentist to ask if it is normal.

Some recommendations if this happens to you are that after the bleeding stops, you can drink fresh water very slowly to refresh your mouth.

Plus, the use of your mouthwash will be forbidden until your dentist tells you the opposite.

Most dentists suggest the use of mouthwash a couple of weeks after the extractions.

Plus, some of them recommend rinsing with salt water two or four days after the procedure.

Some recommendations if this happens to you are that after the bleeding stops, you can drink fresh water very slowly to refresh your mouth.

Plus, the use of your mouthwash will be forbidden until your dentist tells you the opposite.

How to Brush Teeth After Wisdom Tooth Extraction

The first 48 hours after the procedure, you won’t be able to brush and floss your teeth fully.

Since it is crucial to keep the area undisturbed during the main hours and days of the healing process, you will need to keep everything under control.

Meaning is that even if you can deeply brush your teeth you will need to clean the area.

If you don’t brush your teeth you can develop bad breath too.

Sometimes patients are afraid of perturbing the spot where the wisdom teeth used to be.

Not all patients are like this, some of them are smokers.

And they don’t listen to the dentist when he tells them not to smoke during the healing process.

It can turn out in a terrible infection. So, we have two kinds of patients here: the ones who care a lot, and the ones who don’t care that much.

The tips are to brush your teeth with a soft-bristle toothbrush.

This can sound pretty obvious, but sometimes we need to remember.

There are different types of toothbrushes, and you can pick one with soft bristles.

You will be fine, brush softly, and keep the area clean so you can avoid bad breath.

Plus, try not to eat forbidden food during the healing process.

Best Pain Relief After a Tooth Extraction

Probably you are thinking that wisdom teeth extractions are to hurt so much.

Well, it is not like a picnic or something like that, but you will be fine.

There are a lot of worse things that could happen if you don’t extract those molars.

If your dentist has decided that those molars have to go, they have to go.

If you are in pain after the procedure, you can take the prescribed medicines to calm it.

But, some of those medicines will fasten your healing process creating a dry mouth condition.

So, to avoid dry mouth you will need to take a lot of water.

And to avoid bad breath after wisdom teeth extractions you will need to keep your body hydrated.

Eating healthy foods, vegetables, and fruits, for example, will help a lot to keep your breath okay.

Remember that an infection can cause you bad breath too.

So, take this into account next time you want to eat tacos after extractions.

The wound can get infected! Seek medical attention if you think the area is infected. Bad breath can also be a sign of infection.

Bad Breath After Wisdom Teeth Removal

How long does bad breath last after wisdom teeth removal
Photo by meyerdentist.com

Having bad breath after wisdom teeth extractions is quite normal. In most cases, this occurs while your mouth heals.

During the first days after the surgery, there may be more bleeding than usual, causing an unpleasant taste and odor inside the mouth.

If the blood flow is the reason, slowly sipping water can help freshen your breath slightly.

Don’t use your mouthwash to try to freshen your breath, at least in the first 24 hours, or until a dentist says so.

In some cases, bad breath after wisdom teeth removal is a symptom of dry socket.

You can tell it is a dry socket if you look at the surgery spot, and instead of a healthy blood clot, you see a dry opening.

Steps to Prevent Bad Breath After Wisdom Teeth Removal

How long does bad breath last after wisdom teeth removal

  • Use an oral irrigator to help remove food particles from the tooth socket and all over your tooth. Although not an option to skip brushing, oral irrigators can help you wash your teeth. 
  • Rinsing your mouth with salt water can work as an antiseptic agent. Warm salt water can support patients to dull down the pain as an added comfort.
  • Drinking more water can flush out bacteria and food particles that would cause bad breath after wisdom teeth removal. 
  • We highly recommend that you not smoke because smoking can disrupt the blood clot, threatening a dry socket. Nicotine from the cigarettes can also get stuck in the sockets generating an infection, further increasing your bad breath.
  • If you notice that bad breath doesn’t go away even after completing these tips, it might be time for you to visit your dentist.

Patients can’t always avoid bad breath after wisdom tooth removal.

But don’t worry because your dentist can provide you with solutions to fight back against this bacteria growing inside your mouth.

While brushing your teeth and flossing are crucial to keeping your mouth clean, there is another weapon to join your arsenal against, and it is mouthwash. 

However, before you try any mouthwash in the market, you will need to ask your dentist for the right brand for you and our particular case.

Mainly because you are not supposed to use an alcohol-based mouthwash after any teeth extraction, not only wisdom teeth. 

Remember to ask your dentist before doing anything to fight back the bad breath.

How do you get rid of bad breath after wisdom teeth removal?

Tips: After the bleeding stops, sipping water slowly will keep your mouth fresher. Avoid using mouthwash for first 24 hours. Most dentists recommend you to use mouthwash or warm salt water to rinse your mouth only after 24 hours.

Why does my breath still smell after wisdom teeth removal?

When your teeth are extracted, bacteria can get inside your wounds and this is what causes halitosis. Your dentist may provide antibiotics to help, but if the infection persists and causes chronic bad breath for more than a few days, you may need to see your dentist to have the wound cleaned.

Why does my mouth taste rotten after wisdom teeth removal?

It may take several weeks for the gum tissue to grow over the sockets. Food will probably get stuck in the sockets until they close over completely. This may cause problems with bad breath and a bad taste in your mouth.