How to Get Food Out of Wisdom Tooth Hole
If you just got your wisdom tooth extracted then this can lead to an uncomfortable problem, food stuck in the hole where your tooth was. Not only it is annoying, but also raises infection and healing issues. Wondering how do you get food out of wisdom tooth hole? Well, you’re not the only one. This is an all too familiar issue experienced by a lot of people post extraction. How do you keep that area clean without doing harm?
Now, to help you with managing food in the wisdom tooth hole, here are some simple solutions you can try so as to make your recovery a little smoother.
Why Is Food Getting Stuck in the Wisdom Tooth Hole?
Following the pulling of a wisdom tooth, a little socket is left in place of the lost tooth. When you are eating something with texture or in small pieces, this hole can easily capture food. This cavity can last for several weeks or more, as your gum heals and the tissue grows back. During this time, it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the area so that infections or pain do not appear.
But how long does this last? When does the anxiety over it getting stuck finally end? It is okay, I am there for you.
How to Get Food Out of Wisdom Tooth Hole Safely
So how do you handle food that gets stuck in this sensitive area? Following are some methods you can attempt that helped me get through it and what I learned of others who experienced the same.
Use Salt Water Rinses
Rinsing the Wisdom Tooth Hole with Salt Water. Saltwater is naturally healing and will help to gently flush out anything that may be stuck inside the hole.
Take some time, half teaspoon of salt mix in a cup of warm water.
Swirl the solution in your mouth and concentrate on the extraction site.
Do not spit too hard as you might dislodge the healing blood clot.
Salt Water is Useful for Saltwater worked wonders for me during my recovery; I used it continually throughout the day as you can use it without further irritating the wound.
Try a Syringe for Irrigation
The second most psychological hallmark that I personally swear by it is irrigation with a syringe. This is especially helpful when the extraction site has started the recovery process but still requires a cleaning.
Not your dentist will give you a patented syringe, or recommend one with a soft tip that you may use.
Load the syringe with saline or an antiseptic rinse (chlorhexidine).
To rinse the hole gently, keep the tip close to the extraction site. This helps in removing trapped food particles.
I remember the first time I took a syringe to clean the area, I was shocked by all the food that came out. I felt so good that I knew I was doing something to aid the healing process.
Use a Toothbrush With Care
You may not want to brush around the site of your wisdom tooth extraction with your toothbrush, but brushing is still recommended. For this purpose, it is best to use toothbrushes with soft bristles.
Use a toothbrush to gently brush around the extraction site without applying much pressure.
Also try to brush your other teeth in a normal fashion, avoiding the extraction site for 2-3 days.
It might feel great after days of healing that happened to me, I could brush lightly without aggravating the socket and keep my mouth relatively fresh.
Avoid Using Straws
I know how enticing it may sound to suck some drink through a straw after your extraction, but you should rather refrain from doing this for some time. The vacuum created by sucking can pull the blood clot that is forming in the hole away, which could lead to a dry socket. This may take time for healing and inflict more hurt.
Do not drink soda, coffee, or pretty much anything through a straw for the first few days.
However, you can start to bring back the use of straws after a few weeks of healing and clearing them with your dentist.
I found this out the hard way — one time I stupidly used a straw and got blasted with pain and reminded that you should give your extraction site time to heal.
Why It’s Important to Keep the Wisdom Tooth Hole Clean
Maintaining Hygiene in Wisdom Tooth Hole | Importance However, making sure that wisdom tooth hole should not hurt only hurts but also it is essential to prevent infections. The remnants of food particles can lead to bacteria which can cause a gum infection followed by an abscess. In fact, in the worst situations, poor cleansing can obstruct the recovery of your socket and delay the event of brand-new gum tissue.
Trust me on this, you definitely do not want to experience an infection that puts a wrench in your healing process (I learned the hard way!) If you keep cleaning it, then it will be healed in no time.
What Foods Should You Avoid After Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Soft, Easy-to-Chew Foods
During the first few days after your extraction, eat soft foods that don’t require much chewing. Mashed potatoes, yogurt, smoothies, and soup were all helpful. These options are easy on your healing gums and are not going to be stuck in the socket.
Foods That Could Harm Your Healing
Avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that may become stuck in the wisdom tooth hole. The following is a quick list of do-not-do items:
- Chips
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Hard candy
- Carmelly or toffee-like chewy foods
I had to watch what I ate even a week into healing. Because these foods may enter the extraction area and contaminate it, they will increase the risk of infection or pain.
How Long Will the Hole Take to Close?
The hole that the wisdom tooth extracted will take different times to heal depending on the patient and how closely they adhere to post-operative instructions. In most people, gum tissue will slowly fill in the hole over weeks to months.
Initially, there may be some swelling and discomfort, but that should start dissipating within a couple of days.
Usually, the gum tissue heals after about 2 weeks, but the socket may still feel “hollow.”
It may take several months for the full healing and closure to occur; many individuals will demonstrate significant recovery within 3 to 6 months.
When I realized that the hole still hasn’t closed, it gave me all kinds of anxiety, but then the body seems to know what to do, slowly filling up the area with whatever gels in place. This is where patience comes in handy.
Signs That You May Need to See Your Dentist
Some food can become trapped in the open space, and this is to be expected after a wisdom tooth removal, but there are signs that indicate a complication:
- Constant excruciating pain
- Discharge/pus from the site of extraction
- Worsening fever or swelling
If any of these happen, reach out to your dentist. I felt some light soreness at the start but nothing more was really there. Please, when in doubt, listen to your gut and go for professional help.
Final Thoughts: How to Get Food Out of Wisdom Tooth Hole
As annoying as food stuck in a wisdom tooth hole can potentially be, it is something that could still pass. Rinses of saltwater, irrigation with a syringe, and light brushing can all be safe methods for helping to keep your extraction site clean. Simply stay away from straws, difficult foods, and anything that could disrupt the mending. As long as you take care of yourself, you should be able to heal without any issues.
Trust me, healing from a wisdom tooth extraction is a process I have gone through myself, and you’ll find that with the right care, knowledge, and time spent waiting, all of those woes with food getting stuck will be something of the past.
So, what do you think? Time to scrub that hole and go back to eating with no cares?