Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction (Oral Surgery)?

Hello





I had a impacted wisdom tooth extracted about a week ago. I had jawbone shaved away, and the tooth extracted. The surgery went fine.





About 5 days later, the stitches came out. Then t he folded over part of gums became white and fell off. Now, there is a slit in my gums about 1/16 in wide and 1/3 in long. I can see nothing inside of it.





I have eaten very lightly the past week, and I am looking forward to getting back to the real meals. But I am fearfull that this slit will get food inside of it and become infected. I also fear that plain washing the mouith is not enough to get in there and clean it out.





Is there anything I could, or should do to help this thing close up?





Any advice and tips would help. I cannot afford another uninsured visit (atleast not untill i move on to my next impacted tooth).





Thanks!

Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction (Oral Surgery)?
Your incision has healed enough that you needn't worry about this. The "ditch" left in your gum will fill in over the next few months, and eventually should match the rest of the gumline. You will still want to do the swish and rinse thing after you eat, and of course brushing is a must. But plain old dental hygiene of the usual sort is enough to prevent any problems for the most part. The gum has healed and nothing is going to get through it, your danger period for infection has passed so you can relax and enjoy the turkey and trimmings. Enjoy your return to food, and you will be just fine.
Reply:You definitely need to keep flushing out the area with water or you're right.. it will become infected. If you can't afford another visit, I would call the dentist and ask for their advice on the situation.
Reply:i also had the same experience when my impacted tooth was pulled out. I just let it be. The stitches are even optional said the Dentist because the gums will heal naturally and does not need it. Mine is fully healed now. no stitches done. It has smoothed out like there was never an impacted tooth there..





Just rinse your mouth vigorously.
Reply:In addition to eating lighter foods and rinsing afterwards with water, it is also helpful to gargle/rinse with a saline solution. To make the solution use approximately 1/4 teaspoon of table salt in 8 oz. warm water. This should help keep any nasty bacteria at bay.
Reply:Everyone is absolutely right , Keep it clean and flush it out after your meals and before bed , Be patient it takes a good four weeks to fully heal, depending how impacted the tooth was.