Bad Breath After Tooth Extraction: Causes & Care Tips

After any tooth extraction, there are normal situations that can be expected. One of these is bad breath. You may try to cover your mouth with your hand in public or when talking to avoid showing it. But don't worry, bad breath after a tooth extraction is expected and temporary. The important thing is to manage this expected situation well.

Expected conditions after tooth extraction:

There are some conditions you can expect after tooth extraction. These conditions can vary from person to person.

Here are some common conditions you can expect after tooth extraction:

Pain:

It is common to feel some pain and discomfort in your jaw after the local anesthetic wears off. This may last for a few days. If you have been prescribed painkillers, you should take them as directed.

Bleeding:

After a tooth is extracted, the socket (the space in the gum) fills with blood and forms a clot or scab, like a cut on your skin, which you should not disturb or remove. Keep your tongue, toothbrush, and hard foods away from the clot. Avoid using a straw - suction may pull the clot out of the socket and cause bleeding. The socket may leak some blood in the first few hours. If you think you are bleeding excessively, you can apply pressure with gauze pads by biting down hard for 20-30 minutes. Repeat this 2-3 times if necessary.

Swelling:

If the tooth extraction was done surgically, it is common to have swelling in the jaw and cheeks. This usually worsens for 2 to 3 days after surgery, then begins to improve. To help with swelling, you can put an ice pack wrapped in a cloth or towel on the outside of the jaw for the first 24 hours (except while sleeping)

Difficulty swallowing and opening the mouth wide:

It may be difficult to open your mouth wide for a few days. It may also be difficult to swallow for the first few hours after surgery due to numbness and a few swallows due to discomfort and pain. Some people do not have difficulty swallowing.

Bruising:

After a few days you may see bruising on your chin and neck, and if you bruise easily there may be more bruising. Bruising usually disappears within a week or two.

Fever:

You may have a fever for 24 to 48 hours after surgery with a temperature above 38°C. You may also experience nausea or vomiting. This may be due to the surgery, sedatives (medicines used to numb your mouth and help you relax), or painkillers used during surgery. This will get better with time. An elevated body temperature can also be caused by insufficient fluid intake; make sure you drink enough fluids.

Bad breath:

Bad breath is common after tooth extraction and can be caused by a variety of reasons. You will find the details in the following paragraphs.

Dry socket:

Dry socket is a painful condition that does not go away with painkillers and can happen after any tooth extraction. Depending on the level of pain, you may need to come to the clinic for treatment.

Bad breath after tooth extraction:

Causes of bad breath:

Bad breath after tooth extraction is quite common and is part of the healing process. It is not usually a cause for immediate concern. Here are some common reasons why you may experience bad breath after a tooth extraction:

Infection:

Infection can occur when bacteria enter the open wound left after a tooth extraction. If the wound site becomes infected with bacteria after a tooth extraction, it can produce a foul odor that is carried out of your mouth by your breath. In these cases, bad breath is often accompanied by fever, pus, and severe pain. If you have symptoms of an infection, you should see your dentist immediately. Untreated bacterial infections can lead to more serious health problems.

Post-operative bleeding and blood clots:

After a tooth extraction, it is common for the tooth socket to fill with blood and leak blood for the first few hours. This forms a clot, just like a cut on the skin. Blood clots in the mouth can become a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria, which thrive without oxygen. These bacteria ferment and spread the unpleasant odor. Blood that accumulates in the mouth can cause an unpleasant odor and taste, especially at night.

Dry socket:

Dry socket is a painful condition that can occur after tooth extraction. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot in the socket does not form properly or dislodges, leaving the bone exposed. The exposed bone creates an environment that traps food debris and bacteria, allowing them to grow and produce foul-smelling substances. This can be recognized if the pain persists after the initial pain of the operation has subsided. Bad taste and odor in the mouth are symptoms of dry socket. It is more common in the lower jaw and is more common in women (especially those on the contraceptive pill) and smokers.

Poor oral hygiene:

Brushing around the extraction site can be uncomfortable after a tooth extraction, and many people avoid brushing or brush lightly, which can cause bacterial plaque to build up on the teeth and gums and food debris to get stuck between the teeth or in the socket and start to decay. Because there is a wound in the mouth, it is more important than ever to maintain good oral hygiene after a tooth extraction to prevent infection.

Dry mouth:

Dry mouth is a condition that occurs when the mouth does not produce enough saliva. Saliva plays an important role in keeping your mouth clean and moist, removing food debris and bacteria, and a decrease in saliva production can prevent this cleaning process from happening properly, causing bad breath. Dry mouth is a common side effect of many pain medications prescribed after a tooth extraction. Dry mouth can also occur initially during surgery due to the open mouth or anesthetics used. To combat dry mouth, it is important to keep the inside of the mouth moist by drinking plenty of water.

Food debris getting stuck in the tooth socket:

It can take several weeks for the gum to fully grow over the socket of the extracted tooth. Until the socket is completely closed, food debris is likely to get stuck in it, which can cause bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth. Rinsing the mouth with salt water can help keep the mouth clean.

When does bad breath stop?

Usually bad breath goes away within a day or two after regular brushing and rinsing with salt water (after 24 hours).

Should I see a dentist if bad breath continues?

If the bad breath persists or is accompanied by other symptoms such as severe pain, increased swelling, pus discharge, or fever, it may be a sign of a more serious problem such as an infection or dry socket. In this case, you will need to see your dentist.

What should be done to prevent or manage bad breath after a tooth extraction?

Here is what to do to prevent or manage bad breath after tooth extraction:

Maintain good oral hygiene. The most important and effective way to treat bad breath is to maintain good oral hygiene.
Do not rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours. Rinsing the mouth can dislodge the blood clot and cause bleeding to start again.
Start 24 hours after the tooth extraction with a gentle rinse with warm saltwater. Repeat this 3-4 times a day, especially after meals. You can rinse more vigorously as the cut in the gum heals. Do not rinse with anything other than prescription mouthwash or saline for the first 7 days.
Brush your teeth, but start after the first 24 hours. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently around the extraction site. Brush your tongue too, as it can carry bacteria that cause bad breath.
Floss gently and take care not to disturb the wound area.
Keep hydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps prevent dry mouth and reduces bad breath by ridding the mouth of bacteria.
Do not eat hot foods or drink hot liquids for the first 24 hours, during which time you can eat and drink cold, soft foods and liquids.
For the first 2-3 days, choose soft foods such as soup, yogurt, pudding, ice cream, etc. Soft foods will not tear stitches or get stuck in empty sockets.
Avoid sharp, scratchy, or sticky foods.
Keep hard or difficult-to-chew foods away from the empty socket area until it is comfortable to chew.
Avoid strong-smelling or spicy foods.
Do not touch or remove a blood clot with your tongue, toothbrush, or hard food.
Do not use a straw. Suction may dislodge the clot.
Avoid excessive spitting.
Avoid smoking and alcohol.
Smoking can slow healing and increase the risk of infection or dry socket. It can also cause dry mouth and increase the risk of bleeding. Avoid alcohol for the first 24 hours.
Avoiding strenuous activity for the first 24 hours will help healing.
In addition to drinking water, try chewing sugar-free gum or sugar-free lozenges/candy to help with dry mouth.
Follow the post-operative care instructions given to you by your dentist or surgeon.

F.A.Q:

Does bad breath occur after every tooth extraction?

Bad breath may not occur after every tooth extraction, but bad breath after tooth extraction (halitosis) is a very common, frequent, or common side complication. It is especially common after wisdom teeth extractions.

Should I also brush the tooth socket when I brush my teeth?

No, do not brush the tooth socket directly after tooth extraction. Instead of brushing the socket directly during the healing process after tooth extraction, the best approach is to keep the area clean with gentle saltwater rinses after the first 24 hours and carefully brush the rest of the teeth.

How long does bad breath last after tooth extraction?

It usually goes away within one to two days once you start brushing twice a day and rinsing your mouth regularly.

What should I do if the bad breath does not go away after tooth extraction?

In a normal situation, bad breath improves 1-2 days after tooth extraction. However, if the bad breath persists, there may be another underlying cause. In this case, you should go to your doctor for a check-up.