Wisdom teeth removal might be the most well-known mouth surgery around the world. More than 80 percent of adults round the world have their wisdom teeth extracted to avoid complications. Despite how scary and uneasy this procedure might seem, wisdom teeth extraction is classified as a minor oral surgery, which usually lasts only for 45 minutes. After have the tooth removed from its bed, the patient will get their tooth bed stitched with either dissolvable or non-dissolvable stitches to close it and avoid foods excess from accumulating in it.

What is dissolvable stitches?

Stitches is common with oral surgeries. Tooth extraction definitely needs sutures to close the opened tooth socket after the extraction surgery performed. Dissolvable stitches may be used on deep surgical or surface wounds. Dissolvable stitches are commonly made from polyglactin or polyglycoid, which is likely to loosen up within four weeks and dissolve after four months post-surgery. This kind of stitches is dissolved by either a natural enzyme in or body tissues or the process of hydrolysis inside the body. When the stitches start to loosen up, general practitioner may help removing the stitches to speed up healing process.

How long does it take for stitches to dissolve in mouth?

With teeth extraction, a cavity is likely to occur on the area where the tooth was. If the surgery requires gum slicing, this hole might be deep and large, that it is possible for foods excess to accumulate. Sutures are used to close this in order to keep it hygienic and promote better healing. Although not always, dissolvable stitches are commonly used. There are some things to be considered when you are having a post-surgery stitches in your mouth. This is important to avoid infection and wound re-opening. In gum cavity closure, sutures are also used to minimize post-operation bleeding. You might not be able to eat those hard foods, and should only consume soft diets. Even if you obey this post-operative food regulation, stitches after surgeries may still be dislodged and cause discomfort. However, this should not be an alarm, as long as you do not see any bleeding and increasing pain on the affected area. Carefully remove the loosened up stitches and directly discard it. Yet, you should not insist to do this at home when the stitches is loosened up but hard to remove. See your doctor soon to help him assist you in a proper stitches removal. Normally, dissolving stitches will loosen up within a week after surgery. This is a signal that the tooth bed and the tissues beneath it are properly healing. When this happens, the stitches should be safe to remove as it has been functioning well in supporting the wounded gum. You can perform its removal by yourself, especially when you have not felt any complications related to your oral surgeries. However, with non-dissolving stitches, the removal might require anesthesia which is advised to be done only by professionals. This practical reason is a factor why dissolving stitches are preferred to be used in oral surgery, including tooth extraction.

What to be concerned about stitches in mouth?

Despite its function in supporting a wounded gum for a better healing, stitches is considered as a strange thing inside our mouth. During the time you are having this inside your mouth, you might want to concern about some things in order to avoid any disturbance related to this stitches.

1. Consume only soft foods, which do not require any effort to chew.
2. Maintain your mouth hygiene, as this is important to avoid infection. Always make sure that you do not have any food excess which can promote bacteria.
3. Brush your teeth gently. Avoid brushing the affected area before the stitches loosen up, as it may ruin the stitches and delay healing process.
4. When the dissolving stitches start to loose, brushing the area is allowed. However, brush it gently, with natural toothpaste and soft tooth brush. Avoid back and forth movement which may re-open the sutures.
5. Carefully remove the loosened dissolving stitches as long as no complications is experienced during healing time. See the doctor if you are removing non-dissolving stitches as it may require special treatments.