After you have your wisdom teeth removed, your oral surgeon will likely tell you to rinse your mouth with salt water. Salt water has natural healing properties and can promote faster healing by preventing infection and inflammation. While some mouthwashes or prescription rinses can irritate the mouth, salt water rinses contain salt and water, which is naturally found in the human body and does not cause irritation.
At Hill & Ioppolo Oral & Dental Implant Surgery of Lubbock, Dr. Ioppolo will instruct you to rinse with warm salt water 6–8 times every day for 1 week after the procedure. In some cases, we provide patients with an irrigating syringe to help flush food and bacteria out of the empty tooth sockets. If given an irrigating syringe, use it for 2 weeks.
When your oral surgeon instructs you to rinse your mouth with salt water, it’s because using a salt water rinse after wisdom teeth removal promotes healing and helps avoid infection. After surgery, you are more vulnerable to infection as your surgical sites start to heal. Keeping your mouth clean with salt water prevents infection by keeping bacteria and food particles away from the open wounds. In addition to keeping your surgical sites clean, salt water rinses following wisdom teeth removal can alleviate discomfort by reducing swelling and help freshen your breath.
If we gave you an irrigating syringe, begin using it on the third day after your wisdom teeth removal. Fill the syringe with warm salt water, place the tip of the syringe into the extraction site, and flush the site with the solution. Do this 3–4 times every day for 2 weeks and lessen as the surgical site heals.
Begin salt water rinses the day after your wisdom teeth removal. Do not rinse on the same day as your surgery, as it may prolong bleeding.
Salt water rinses are often advised following wisdom tooth removal, but your oral surgeon may recommend rinsing with salt water after a tooth extraction of any kind. If we instruct you to perform salt water rinses, follow the same process of rinsing with a warm salt water solution multiple times a day for 1 week, or as instructed by your surgeon.
Some bleeding is normal following any type of oral surgery procedure. After having your wisdom teeth removed, it is not uncommon for the surgical sites to bleed for up to 24 hours. Remember not to rinse your mouth at all on the day of your surgery because it may prolong bleeding. Wait until the following day to begin salt water rinses.
If you experience bleeding or discomfort beyond what was expected or have questions about salt water rinses, contact our office. A member of our team will be happy to help you.
