After having wisdom teeth extracted, a hole will be left at the original location of the tooth. During the healing process of this wound, if food accidentally gets in, it can be very disturbing. Food residue remaining in the wisdom tooth cavity not only causes an unpleasant smell but may also lead to infection and affect wound healing. So, when food gets into a wisdom tooth hole, exactly how should it be handled? Next, I will introduce to you in detail the coping methods based on the different healing stages of wisdom tooth cavities.
In the early postoperative period (1-3 days) : Handle with caution to avoid damaging the blood clot
One to three days after the extraction of wisdom teeth, the blood clot at the wound site is still unstable, which is a critical period for healing. At this time, if food gets into the wisdom tooth cavity, do not use toothpicks, sharp tools or fingers to dig it out, nor rinse your mouth vigorously, as these actions can easily destroy the blood clot. Once the blood clot falls off, the wound loses protection, which can lead to rebleeding and may also cause serious complications such as dry socket syndrome, delaying the healing process.
If you feel that food has entered your wisdom tooth cavity, you can try gently rinsing your mouth with clean water or the mild mouthwash recommended by your doctor. When gargling, hold the liquid in your mouth, tilt your head slightly, and let the liquid flow slowly in your mouth. Use the force of the water flow to flush out food residues. Each gargle session should last about 30 seconds. Do not rinse too vigorously to avoid negative pressure that may cause blood clots to fall off. If food residues cannot be removed by gently rinsing your mouth, do not force it. You can temporarily endure the discomfort and wait for the wound to heal further.
If you still feel food residue after gargling and experience abnormal conditions such as increased wound pain and bleeding, you should contact a doctor immediately. Doctors will, based on the specific situation, carry out professional treatment without damaging the blood clot, such as using professional oral irrigation tools to rinse the wound with a gentle stream of water and remove food residues.
Mid-postoperative period (4-7 days) : Gradually clean and operate with care
Four to seven days after the operation, the blood clot at the wound site gradually organized and formed granulation tissue. The wound began to heal initially, but it was still relatively fragile. At this point, if food gets into the wisdom tooth cavity, you can appropriately increase the cleaning intensity, but you still need to be cautious.
In addition to rinsing your mouth with clean water or mouthwash, you can also use a water flosser to assist in cleaning. Adjust the water flow of the water flosser to a gentle mode, aim the nozzle around the wisdom tooth cavity, and let the water flow gently rinse the wound. When using a water flosser, it is important to maintain an appropriate distance and Angle to avoid direct and strong impact of water flow on the wound and prevent damage to the newly formed granulation tissue. Each rinse should not be too long and should be controlled within 1 to 2 minutes.
If the food residue is still not removed thoroughly through the above methods, do not attempt more radical approaches on your own. You can go to the hospital and let the doctor handle it. After disinfection, the doctor will carefully remove the food residue using professional instruments such as probes and tweezers. At this stage, if you notice redness, swelling, increased pain, or an unpleasant odor at the wound site, you should seek medical attention promptly. This could be due to an infection caused by food debris, which requires further treatment by a doctor, such as local irrigation and application of medication.
Postoperative period (2 weeks – several months) : Normal cleaning and focus on healing
Two weeks to several months after the operation, the surface epithelium of the wisdom tooth cavity is basically completely covered, and the bone inside the wound is also continuously repairing. At this point, normal oral hygiene methods can generally effectively remove food residues that have entered the wisdom tooth cavity.
Brush your teeth on time in the morning and evening every day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and apply the bass brushing technique to gently clean the area around and inside the wisdom tooth cavities. When brushing your teeth, hold the bristles of the toothbrush at a 45-degree Angle to the surface of your teeth, apply slight pressure to let the bristles enter the gingival sulcus and the edge of the wisdom tooth cavity, shake the toothbrush horizontally 4 to 5 times each time, and then rotate the toothbrush towards the tooth crown to remove food debris. When brushing your teeth, be careful to move gently to avoid damaging the tissues that have healed but are still relatively fragile.
Rinse your mouth with clean water or mouthwash after meals to remove food residues in your mouth in time. You can also use dental floss or interdental brushes to clean the tiny gaps around the interdental surfaces and wisdom tooth cavities to prevent food residue. If you find that the wisdom tooth cavity heals slowly or food debris repeatedly enters and is difficult to clean, it is recommended that you go to the hospital for regular check-ups. Doctors may use examination methods such as oral X-rays to understand the bone repair situation inside the wound, determine whether there are any abnormalities, and provide corresponding guidance and treatment.
Methods to prevent food from entering wisdom tooth cavities
Adjust the diet
During the healing period of wisdom teeth, try to avoid eating foods that are prone to getting stuck in the teeth, such as enoki mushrooms, shredded lean meat, and glutinous rice foods. These foods are soft and slender in texture, or have a high stickiness, and are very likely to get stuck in the wisdom tooth cavity. When choosing food, give priority to those that are easy to chew and digest, such as rice porridge, noodles, steamed eggs, etc. At the same time, when eating, chew food slowly and thoroughly to reduce the possibility of large pieces of food entering the mouth and lower the risk of food getting into the wisdom tooth cavity.
Change chewing habits
Avoid chewing food on the side where the tooth was extracted before the wound is completely healed. Try to chew with the other tooth as much as possible to allow the extraction side to have sufficient rest and reduce the chance of food entering the wisdom tooth cavity. If there is a problem with the other tooth and it cannot chew normally, you should inform the doctor in time and seek an appropriate solution, such as temporarily wearing dentures, etc.
Use oral care tools correctly
Master the correct methods of using oral care tools such as water flossers and dental floss. A water flosser can promptly clean up food residues in the mouth after meals, but it is important to choose the appropriate water flow pattern and nozzle. Dental floss can effectively clean food debris from the interdental surfaces. When using it, hold the floss tightly against the interdental surfaces and pull it up and down to avoid damaging the gums and wounds. By using these tools correctly, it is possible to effectively prevent food from entering wisdom teeth holes.
Conclusion
After food enters the wisdom tooth cavity, it is essential to adopt the correct treatment method based on the different healing stages of the wound. Meanwhile, it is also crucial to take good preventive measures. If you encounter any questions during the treatment process or if there are any abnormal conditions at the wound site, do not hesitate to consult a doctor in a timely manner. Through scientific handling and prevention, we can reduce the trouble caused by food entering the wisdom tooth cavity and promote the smooth healing of the wound.
Related topics:
Can wisdom teeth be extracted?
Wisdom tooth decayed, should it be extracted or filled?
Toothache may be wisdom teeth, but wisdom teeth do not hurt what to do
