How to remove food debris in the socket of newly extracted wisdom teeth

Newly extracted wisdom teeth often leave large cavities in the gums and underlying bone. The cavity is where the roots of the teeth used to grow; and in some cases can be the size of a molar. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} Most surgeons will use sutures to close this socket; however, some cases are not sutured and complications may occur. Food particles often get stuck in the sockets of wisdom teeth, and rinsing with salt water alone may not be enough to clean it. Learning how to properly clean and care for a gum wound can help prevent infection and complications during the healing process.

Table of Contents

Wound care immediately after surgery

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Ask if the surgeon will stitch the wound. If the wound is closed with stitches, food will not be able to enter the tooth socket. You may see small gray, black, blue, green, or yellow particles near the tooth socket. This is a normal discoloration and is part of the healing process. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Avoid touching the wound. You need to brush and floss your teeth, but avoid teeth close to the wound.

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Rinse your mouth gently with salt water for 48 hours. You can gargle the first day, but be careful. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of warm water. Stir well until the salt is completely dissolved.
Avoid gargling or spitting salt water. Gently shake your head or use your tongue to push the salt water in your mouth.
Once you’ve absorbed the saline, you can bend over the sink and open your mouth to let the salt water run down instead of spitting it out.
Your doctor may give you a solution of chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex, Periogard) to rinse your mouth. This is an antiseptic that kills bacteria. You can dilute this solution with water in a 1:1 ratio to avoid the negative effects of chlorhexidine. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Do not use your fingers or any other tool to remove food particles. Do not poke your teeth with your tongue. This action can introduce bacteria into the wound and disrupt healing tissue. ^{[5] X Research Source} You should stick with salt water to remove food particles.

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Avoid smoking and do not use straws. Any suction movement in the mouth can dislodge blood clots, leaving the socket dry, painful and leading to an increased risk of infection. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Gargle after the first day

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Rinse with salt water. Gargling with salt water is an effective way to clean wounds in the mouth, remove food particles, and reduce pain and inflammation.

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt with 240 ml of water.
Stir well until the salt is completely dissolved.

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Use salt water to rinse your mouth gently until the salt solution is used up. You should also focus on the area to be treated in the mouth to increase the efficiency of removing food particles and reduce inflammation. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Repeat this process every 2 hours and after each meal. You also need to rinse your mouth thoroughly before going to bed. This will help reduce inflammation, thereby keeping the wound clean and healing properly. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Use syringe if directed. Using a syringe can help you control the flow of water and clean the wound more effectively; however, if not used correctly, the syringe procedure can dislodge blood clots that heal tissue. Ask your dentist if you can use a syringe.

Draw warm water into the syringe. You can use the saline solution described above.
Aim the syringe tip as close to the wound site as possible but do not touch the wound.
Inject water into the wound site from the necessary angles to completely clean the wound and prevent infection. Do not pump too hard – a strong stream of water sprayed directly into the socket can cause damage.

Know what will happen after the first day

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Don’t panic. Food getting stuck in the wisdom tooth socket can be uncomfortable, but that alone doesn’t cause an infection. Wounds can still heal even if food gets stuck in the socket; and more importantly avoid touching or touching the wound. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Don’t confuse blood clots with food crumbs. Blood clots in the gums are usually gray and fibrous like food. Cleaning too hard in this case can dislodge blood clots and lead to complications. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Eat soft foods. This is especially important during the first 24 hours after surgery. Gradually switch from soft foods to slightly harder foods as the wound heals. In general, you need to avoid hard, chewy, crunchy and spicy foods, as these foods easily fall into the socket and cause irritation or infection. ^{[11] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Chew on the side opposite to the side where the wisdom tooth has just been extracted.
Avoid eating foods that are too hot or too cold. You should choose cold foods for the first two days.

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Avoid sources of contamination, wash hands frequently with soap and water. Do not shake hands with others for about a week. Do not share toothbrushes or other personal items. You need to make sure you don’t have a secondary infection that can burden your immune system.

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Know when to seek medical help. Bleeding in the first few days after tooth extraction is quite common. However, you should contact your dentist or surgeon immediately if any of the following symptoms appear: ^{[12] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Heavy bleeding (more than slow bleeding)
There is pus in the wound
Difficulty swallowing/breathing
Fever
More swelling after two or three days
There is blood or pus in the nasal discharge
Pain, dull pain after the first 48 hours
Bad breath after 3 days
Pain that doesn’t get better after taking painkillers

Advice

Thoroughly inspect each cavity by rinsing for a few more seconds to remove all food particles. Tooth cavities may be deeper than you think.
You can replace the syringe with an aerosol and change the nozzle to direct it into the cavity.
This method is especially useful when the wisdom tooth has not yet emerged and requires an incision to be extracted, but it is also worth a try in cases where the wisdom tooth has been extracted by other means.

Warning

Only do this method when you can open your mouth comfortably.
This method should not be used as a substitute for any procedure directed by your surgeon. You need to strictly follow your doctor’s advice and notify your doctor if any complications occur.
If you feel pain while cleaning the socket, you need to ask your surgeon before proceeding.
Make sure cleaning equipment is sterile and disposable.

Things you need

Warm water
Salt
Syringe (sterile)

Steps