Bad breath after tooth extraction: 5 tips to eliminate

January 2, 2020

Bad breath after tooth extraction is an extremely unpleasant phenomenon. This sign always indicates that something has gone wrong. In the vast majority of cases, it speaks of the development of a complication such as alveolitis. The editors of the UltraSmile.ru portal believe that it is much easier to prevent this pathology than to treat it later. We invite you to familiarize yourself with valuable advice from professional doctors on what you should do in the first hours and days after tooth extraction, so that later you will not be bothered by the question of why your breath smells bad.

How to get rid of bad breath after tooth extraction?

Tip one: carefully protect the tooth socket from damage

Bad breath after tooth extraction occurs due to the fact that bacteria, food debris, saliva have penetrated into the formed hole, and the inflammatory process has begun. However, this will not happen if you allow a protective blood clot to form and do not damage it.

To prevent the odor from the socket that appears due to inflammation after tooth extraction, the following actions are prohibited:

chewing food on the side of the jaw where the surgery was performed,
active rinses,
attempts to touch the wound with your tongue, finger,
cleaning the injured area and surrounding tissues with a toothbrush.

The photo shows alveolitis.
Alveolitis is not always the cause of odor from the socket after tooth extraction.
Pathology may develop due to the fact that the doctor did not completely clean the wound from root fragments. In any case, if you have a problem like this, you need to contact a specialist, because... the absence of measures to eliminate the inflammatory process can lead to the development of flux, abscess, phlegmon, osteomyelitis and even sepsis.

Tip two: on the first day, refuse even mouth baths.

Many patients are worried that on the first day after surgery, doctors forbid them not only from brushing their teeth and actively rinsing, but even from using antiseptic mouth baths. They fear that inaction will lead to infection of the newly damaged tissue. However, you don't have to worry about this. After treatment, the doctor tampons the resulting hole with iodoform turunda (for example, Alvostaz), which then gradually resolves over 4-5 hours. The dressing has a local antiseptic, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory1, wound healing and even anesthetic effect.

The bandage has a local antiseptic and hemostatic effect

By the way, the iodine smell after tooth extraction and even a similar taste is just the norm when you have such a medicinal dressing on the wound. This is harmless, unless, of course, you are allergic to iodine, which your doctor should naturally ask about in advance. After a day, the smell and taste will completely disappear, because... the remedy will dissolve.

For the first 3-5 days, under no circumstances should you actively rinse your mouth with antiseptic solutions or herbal decoctions. Moreover, it is not even recommended to do mouth baths on the first day. All this can lead to damage, shifting or loss of the protective clot.

Starting from the second day after removal, you can perform oral baths. To do this, simply put an antiseptic in your mouth (Chlorhexidine, Miramistin, Furacilin), hold it for several minutes, then carefully spit it out. But you cannot use a soda-salt solution for this purpose - despite its excellent disinfecting properties, it can negatively affect the clot itself and the tissues surrounding it.

"Chlorophyllipt" can also be used for rinsing

Prevention of halitosis

Choose a toothbrush with a suitable degree of hardness, change the hygiene accessory at least once every 3 months;
use toothpaste without abrasive particles to prevent damage to the enamel;
brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day;
use dental floss, irrigator;
rinse your mouth every time after eating;
give up bad habits (smoking, alcohol, excessive coffee consumption);
drink enough water to prevent dry mouth;
reduce consumption of foods with strong aroma;
do not forget to cleanse the tongue, paying attention to its root;
visit the dentist regularly (every 6 months) for professional hygiene;
promptly treat ENT pathologies and internal diseases;
strengthen immunity;
avoid stress and nervous tension;
in case of chronic diseases of internal organs, pay attention to the prevention of complications and take prescribed therapy.

Expert of the article Bolshakova Evgenia Vladimirovna Dentist-hygienist

More than 11 years of experience

Tip three: limit your consumption of certain foods

To prevent an unpleasant odor from appearing from the socket after tooth extraction, everything must be done to ensure that the protective clot in the wound remains intact. And dietary habits in the first few days play an important role in this.

“After removing my wisdom tooth, I had a terrible smell from the socket. It just smelled like some kind of rot, but the hole was still huge after the operation. There was no pain. I went to the doctor to find out what was wrong, because at work our tables are very tightly spaced, and I’m sure that all my colleagues could easily smell this stinking smell. The doctor cleaned something there, and the stench went away immediately. It turned out that food was clogged into this deep hole, and this food was rotting, and I was unable to clean it out on my own. Now I’m afraid that I might get full again, I can’t imagine how to eat until all this drags on. I’ll chew for a week on only one side of my jaw...”

Anna, review from 32top.ru

You cannot eat for the first 2 hours after surgery, but after half an hour you can already drink water. It is better to avoid eating cold, hot and solid foods for 2-5 days. You also need to exclude spicy and salty foods from your diet, because they can cause additional discomfort, irritation of damaged mucous membranes and slow down the healing process.

After the procedure you need to take soft, warm food

You should not consume foods and drinks that increase blood flow to the head and increase blood pressure: coffee, pepper, pomegranate, garlic, cinnamon, citrus fruits, ginger. Alcohol is prohibited. Such foods and drinks can cause swelling and bleeding, which will wash away the protective clot.

In the first days, give preference to soft, liquid and warm foods. Chew on the side of the jaw opposite the one where surgery was performed.

If your doctor suggests removing a tooth, consider immediately replacing it with an implant. Today there is a one-time method of implantation - you do not have to wait for the hole to heal. True, if the specialist’s recommendations are violated, an unpleasant odor after tooth extraction and simultaneous installation of an implant can also occur, but not against the background of alveolitis, but against the background of peri-implantitis.

Causes of swelling after removal

Swelling of the mucous membrane in the area of removal in the gum area, as well as swelling of the cheeks, are also considered normal after wisdom tooth extraction. This is explained by tissue injury and the body’s natural reaction to the procedure. Normally, swelling increases the next day after visiting a dental surgeon, but then, if all recommendations are followed, it should subside.

If the swelling continues to increase, you should consult a doctor. The same applies to situations where, in addition to tissue swelling, there is increased pain, discharge from the socket, and increased body temperature. The listed signs indicate inflammation, which requires initiation of treatment.

The signs will be especially pronounced if there was already purulent inflammation at the time of visiting the dentist. In this case, even a correctly performed procedure, creating an outflow of inflammatory exudate, does not exclude an increase in tissue edema. When removing the upper tooth, swelling may spread to the orbital area. During surgery on the third molar of the mandible, swelling may extend to the neck and ear area. If after a day the symptom becomes less pronounced, we can assume that there are no complications.

In addition to increased swelling and pain, the following signs will be an indication for an emergency visit to the dentist:

Discharge of pus from the socket.
Bleeding.
Pain when swallowing.
Pain when trying to open your mouth.
Swelling of the face, accompanied by redness of the skin.

It is unlikely that tissue swelling will be completely avoided, but the risk of complications can be reduced. It is enough to follow the doctor’s instructions, take prescribed medications and monitor oral hygiene.

Bad breath – is it always a pathology?

We have already found out that only the smell of iodine can be considered normal, provided that the doctor tamponed the hole with the appropriate turunda after the extraction procedure. This smell goes away on its own after a few days.

There is another smell (and taste) that does not indicate the presence of a pathological process for several days after extraction - it is steel, metallic, or even iron. It appears against the background of the fact that the damaged socket and the tissues around it secrete ichor, and it, like blood, has exactly that smell. True, in this case these two concepts should not be confused. Because bleeding for several days is normal, bleeding is abnormal and requires urgent medical attention.

A metallic taste may be present for several days.

People with poor blood clotting, diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure, smokers, and women taking hormonal contraceptives are more at risk of bleeding that does not stop for a long time, accompanied by a characteristic metallic odor. If you have at least one of these factors, then before tooth extraction, be sure to inform your doctor so that he can prescribe you the appropriate medications for maintenance therapy.

If the smell is stale, putrid, rotten, this is a signal of a pathological process and is always a reason to consult a doctor.

Signs of infection

The presence of infection may be indicated by:

aching or cutting pain in the socket;
increased body temperature and chills;
weakness, dizziness, headache;
state of drowsiness,
nausea.

With such signs, consultation with a specialist is mandatory. After all, the sooner adequate therapy is prescribed, the faster it will be possible to get rid of the problem and not have to deal with complications.

How to get rid of the smell if it does appear

If you have a bad putrid odor from your mouth, you should visit a doctor. There is no need to be afraid; treatment of alveolitis does not involve any complex and painful procedures. On the contrary, it is much more difficult to treat the consequences of complications later - the same abscess, osteomyelitis or phlegmon.

If you notice an unpleasant odor, you should contact your dentist.

The doctor will give you anesthesia, open the wound and clean it of purulent masses, then perform an antiseptic treatment of the tissue. Drainage will also be performed if necessary. The procedure ends with tamponade of the hole with drugs. Next, the patient goes home, where he will have to drink the antibiotics prescribed by the dentist, as well as rinse with antiseptic drugs. To quickly achieve a positive effect, additional physical procedures, for example, electrophoresis, can also be prescribed.

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removal of a tooth

Rodionov N.T., Andreeva E.P., Dobrorodova S.V., Stoletennaya T.P. Prevention and treatment of alveolitis. Bulletin of the Smolensk State Medical Academy, 2010.

Expert “If an unpleasant odor appears after tooth extraction, it is not necessarily associated with the operation. The reasons may lie in the presence of untreated teeth in the mouth with pulpitis or cysts, gingivitis, diseases of the nasopharynx, and gastrointestinal pathologies. This symptom can be caused by general poor oral health, the accumulation of heavy bacterial plaque on the teeth and under the gums. Of course, all of the problems listed can lead to the development of complications and alveolitis, so it is better to eliminate them even before the extraction procedure: you need to carry out professional hygiene and cure diseased teeth. You cannot come for surgery with an untreated acute respiratory viral infection or acute respiratory infection, or with a severely weakened immune system.” Dentist-therapist Elena Vladimirovna Orlova

Consulting specialist

Dzhutova Aida Vladimirovna

Doctor rating: 8.8 out of 10 (5) Specialization: Implant surgeon, periodontist Experience: 9 years

Complications

Mild inflammation of the tooth socket, if not eliminated, takes on more severe forms. We are talking about purulent diseases such as alveolitis, abscess and periostitis. Patients should learn how to recognize and treat these postextraction complications.

Alveolitis

The walls of the wound remaining at the site of the extracted tooth become inflamed in 3% of patients . This condition is called alveolitis. It develops 3-5 days after surgery and is accompanied by a putrid stench. The complication is characterized by an acute course with destruction of the gum tissue that surrounds the wound.

This process is accompanied by severe, sometimes throbbing, pain in the empty socket. The more severely the tissue is damaged by alveolitis, the more severe the pain syndrome. Sometimes the pain affects the part of the face that is closest to the wound. In addition to pain at the site of inflammation, a person with alveolitis suffers from migraines.

The complication manifests itself as follows:

The patient's general well-being worsens. Weakness occurs and fatigue increases. Body temperature remains at 37-38 degrees.
The submandibular lymph nodes are enlarged.
The patient's teeth become more sensitive to cold and hot foods.
The patient's appetite is impaired. At the same time, the salivary glands work more actively than usual, and a bitter taste appears in the mouth.
The patient's face swells. This occurs if the wound has expanded significantly, or secondary foci of inflammation have appeared on the oral mucosa.

Without proper sanitation, alveolitis develops into osteomyelitis, which causes rotting of the jaw bone.

To avoid this, proceed as follows:

Contact a dentist who will clean the hole and wash out the purulent infiltrate using hydrogen peroxide or a nitrofural solution. The doctor will give the patient an anesthetic injection and prescribe several repeated rinses.
Antiseptic lotions are applied to a clean wound. This is done up to 2-3 times a day, the tampons are kept for 30 minutes.
If the patient suffers from concomitant ailments, or his immunity is weakened, then antibiotics are prescribed.

A complication noticed in a timely manner is treated within 4-5 days . After this, the hole may hurt for up to 3 weeks.

We invite you to watch a video about what alveolitis is:

Abscess

An abscess is the most common post-extraction complication, during which a whitish-reddish abscess appears at the site of the tooth socket. With this pathology, the patient experiences acute, throbbing pain. Inflammation is accompanied by halitosis and the following symptoms:

sleep disturbance;
appetite disorder;
temperature up to 38 degrees;
swelling of the face;
a feeling of bitterness in the mouth;
enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes;
increased sensitivity of dental crowns.

Once opened, the abscess becomes an open ulcer. Inflammation can spread to soft tissues and teeth that are located next to the lesion. In particularly advanced cases, the problem leads to osteomyelitis and requires surgical intervention.

How does sanitation of an abscess occur? The dentist drains the wound, removes pus and damaged tissue. The surgical area is treated with an antiseptic and numbed. If teeth are damaged, they are either removed or filled with new crowns. Wound healing requires washing, rinsing and physiotherapeutic procedures. For abscesses, antibiotics are prescribed . Typically these are the following drugs:

Amoxicillin;
Ampiox;
Cefodox;
Lincomycin.

The abscess is treated for about a week under the supervision of professionals.

Periostitis

Periostitis, or flux, is a bacterial inflammation of the periosteum - the connective tissue of the jaw. With this complication, bags of pus quickly form between the periosteum and jaw, which quickly spreads over nearby tissues.

In addition, flux can occur due to the degeneration of a benign cyst , which protects the healthy part of the mucosa from the inflamed one. A person with periostitis experiences pain that is aggravated by touching the source of the disease. The complication begins with swelling, which covers the gums and moves to the patient’s cheek. Later the swelling spreads to the following parts of the face:

on the lips;
on the chin;
on the neck;
on the lower eyelids.

With flux, the nasolabial fold swells and becomes numb . The patient's body temperature rises to 38 degrees. Purulent masses may come out through the gums. The pain in the lesion subsides after the abscess breaks through, but after a while it intensifies.

How is the disease treated? First of all, the dental surgeon determines the affected area and administers an anesthetic to the patient. It then proceeds as follows:

Disinfects the part of the mucous membrane on which the operation will be performed.
Incises the gum to release pus.
Thoroughly drains foci of inflammation, removing pus and affected tissue.
Fills those inflamed teeth that can still be saved.

The patient is prescribed analgesics and antibiotics, as well as physiotherapy - laser and ultrasound treatment. During the recovery period, you should not eat hard, spicy, sour or salty foods. The patient is advised to drink plenty of fluids. With timely and correct sanitation, the flux will disappear within a week .

We invite you to watch a video about what periostitis is:

Comments

When can you brush your teeth after tooth extraction? And is it possible to immediately use an irrigator if you can’t use a brush?

Vita (01/14/2020 at 00:45) Reply to comment

Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (01/18/2020 at 09:22) Reply to comment

My wisdom tooth was removed, the hole was treated and sewn up. after treatment everything heals well, it doesn’t hurt, but the smell is strong, dental, not putrid, some kind of medicinal, it drives me crazy, it seems to me that everyone around me feels it. My job involves close communication with people. What should I do?

Irina (08/27/2021 at 11:04 pm) Reply to comment