How to Remove Food from Extracted Wisdom Teeth Sockets

Co-authored by Alina Lane, DDS

Last Updated: May 23, 2024 Approved

Extracting wisdom teeth often leaves large holes in your gums and the bone beneath them. The hole is the space where roots have developed; in some cases the hole may be the size of an entire molar.^{[1]
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Go to source} Most surgeons will use stitches to close these holes; however, in some cases stitches aren't used, and in these cases you can expect certain complications. In most cases, rinsing out your mouth with warm salt water (saline) solution does the trick. If that doesn't work, use a syringe to aim the saline directly into the socket and flush the food particles out. Learning how to properly clean and care for gum wounds can help prevent infection and complications during the healing process.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Caring for Your Wound Immediately After Surgery

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If your surgeon closed the wounds with stitches, food won't be able to get in the holes. You may see particles near the extraction sites that look grey, black, blue, green, or yellow. This is normal discoloration and is part of the healing process.^{[2]
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Thoroughly brush and floss the rest of your mouth, but avoid the teeth closest to the wound.

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3
Rinse very gently with saltwater for the first 48 hours. It's okay to rinse the first day, but you have to take certain precautions.^{[3]
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- Combine 1/4 teaspoon salt with one cup of warm water. Stir it well to mix.
- Avoid swishing the saltwater rinse in your mouth or spitting it out. Gently move your head to move the rinse around your mouth or use your tongue to help move the saline solution around.
- After rinsing, lean over the sink and open your mouth to let the rinse fall out. Don't spit.
- Your doctor may also give you chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex, Periogard) to rinse with. This is a germicidal mouthwash that helps kill bacteria. Try diluting it with water at a 1:1 ratio to avoid any possible negative effects of the chlorhexidine.^{[4]
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Do not use fingers or any foreign objects to remove food. Don't use your tongue to prod the hole, either. Doing this may introduce bacteria to the wound, and could disrupt the healing tissue.^{[5]
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Research source} Instead, stick to salt water rinses to remove food particles.
- Avoid brushing the area where the tooth was removed for at least 8 hours.^{[6]
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  Alina Lane, DDS
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  Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.}
Any kind of suction activity in the mouth could dislodge blood clots, causing a painful dry socket and potentially leading to infection.^{[7]
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Rinsing After the First Day

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1
Make a salt water rinse. Salt water rinses are useful for cleaning wounds in the mouth, removing food, and reducing pain and inflammation.
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt in eight ounces of water.
- Stir completely, so that the salt is well-dissolved in the water.
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Rinse gently using the salt water rinse, until the solution is completely used. You may wish to focus your rinsing action on the affected side of your mouth, to most effectively remove debris and provide inflammation relief.^{[8]
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- Even if you feel like something is caught in your mouth, avoid swishing water very forcefully, as it can disturb the healing process. It's crucial to keep the blood clot in place for your gums and bone to heal again, and when you put a lot of pressure in your mouth from swishing and spitting, it can disrupt the blood clot.^{[9]
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  Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.}
You'll also want to rinse thoroughly before you go to sleep. Doing this will reduce inflammation and help ensure that your wound is kept clean and can heal properly.^{[10]
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4
Use a syringe if directed. Using a syringe may help you control the flow of water and allow you to clean your wound more efficiently; however, if not used properly, an irrigator or syringe can dislodge the blood clot forming to heal the tissue. Ask your dentist whether you should use one.
- Fill the syringe with lukewarm water. You may also use the saltwater solution described above.
- Aim the tip of the syringe as close as possible to the site of your wound without actually touching it.
- Flush the site of the wound from any necessary angles to thoroughly clean the wound and prevent infection. Do not push too forcefully — expelling a powerful jet of water directly into the socket could be harmful.

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Knowing What to Expect After the First Day

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Food that gets caught in a wisdom teeth wound may be uncomfortable, but it alone should not cause an infection. Healing can still take place even if food gets caught, and it's more important to avoid touching or probing the wound.
Clots in the gums may appear gray and fibrous, like food particles. Cleaning too vigorously in this case may remove the clot and cause further complications.^{[11]
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3
Stick to soft foods. This is especially important during the first 24 hours after surgery. Gradually move from soft foods to semi-soft foods as your wound heals. It's generally best to avoid hard, chewy, or crunchy foods, like chips.^{[12]
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Alina Lane, DDS
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Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.} These are most prone to pooling in the socket and causing irritation or infection.^{[13]
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- Opt for softer foods like pasta and soup, but keep in mind that small foods, like rice, can get caught in the hole from the extraction, which can irritate your gums.^{[14]
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  Board Certified Dentist
  
  Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.}
- Chew on the opposite side or your mouth from the extraction site.^{[15]
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  Alina Lane, DDS
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  Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.}
- Avoid eating foods that are too hot or cold foods. Go for room temperature foods during the first two days.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Don't shake hands with people for a week or so. Don't share toothbrushes or other implements with others. You want to make sure that you don't pick up a secondary infection that could tax your immune system.
5
Know when to seek professional help. Some bleeding will be common over the first few days following a tooth extraction. If you experience any of the following symptoms, however, you should contact your dentist or oral surgeon immediately.^{[16]
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- Excessive bleeding (more than a slow ooze)
- Pus in the wound
- Difficulty swallowing/breathing
- Fever
- Swelling that increases after two or three days
- Blood or pus in nasal mucus
- Throbbing, dull pain after the first 48 hours
- Bad breath after three days
- Pain that is not reduced after taking painkillers

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Question

What should i eat after wisdom teeth removal?

Alina Lane, DDS
Board Certified Dentist
Dr. Alina Lane is a Dentist who runs All Smiles Dentistry, a general practice dental office based in New York City. After completing a DDS at the University of Maryland, Dr. Lane completed a year-long clerkship in Implantology at the University of Maryland, where she focused on the advanced restoration of dental implants. She continued her advanced education by completing a General Practice Residency at Woodhull Medical Center, an affiliate of the NYU School of Medicine. She received the Woodhull Medical Center Resident of the Year 2012-2013.

Alina Lane, DDS

Board Certified Dentist

Expert Answer

Stick to soft foods, such as soup and pasta. Steer clear of hard, chewy, or crunchy foods, as well as small foods that have small pieces, such as rice.

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Question

I had stitches but it seems like the stitches broke and left a hole, and now I've got a gum wound. I've already rinsed with mouthwash and salt water, what other options do I have, and can I get an infection?

Cristian Macau, DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery
Dr. Macau is a Doctor of Dental Surgery based in London, England. Dr. Macau is an oral surgeon, periodontist, and aesthetician at Favero Dental Clinic where he is known for his cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics work. He is actively involved in scientific research in the field of dentistry and he received his DDS from Carol Davila University of Medicine in 2015.

Cristian Macau, DDS

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Expert Answer

Stitches may break during eating, speaking or even while sleeping so don’t worry. The first five hours after extraction are important in forming the clot. Make sure you eat according to the doctor’s indications, clean your teeth, take any medication if it has been prescribed and check in the mirror for any food left in the hole.

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Question

What else could I do if it hurts to swish saltwater around?

Cristian Macau, DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery
Dr. Macau is a Doctor of Dental Surgery based in London, England. Dr. Macau is an oral surgeon, periodontist, and aesthetician at Favero Dental Clinic where he is known for his cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics work. He is actively involved in scientific research in the field of dentistry and he received his DDS from Carol Davila University of Medicine in 2015.

Cristian Macau, DDS

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Expert Answer

Replace the saltwater with mouthwash and see how it goes. You can also try rinsing with common wormwood tea or even place a small drop of aloe gel near the area.

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Tips

Double check each hole by flushing for a few more seconds to get all the food out. The holes can be deeper than you think.

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This method works especially well if the wisdom teeth were impacted (hadn't yet broken the skin) and an incision had to be made to remove them, but it's worth trying this method if they were extracted by another means.

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As an alternative to a syringe, use a spray bottle and change the nozzle setting to shoot directly to the hole.

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Warnings

Only begin this process when you can comfortably open your mouth.

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This process is not to be used in place of anything your surgeon instructs you to do. Follow your surgeon's advice closely and let him or her know about any complications.

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Make sure the instruments you use are sterile, single-use instruments.

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If you experience any pain during this process, consult your surgeon before continuing.

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