Just had your wisdom teeth removed? Halitosis or bad breath is a common effect that can last for a while after you have your wisdom tooth removed. Fortunately, there are some effective ways to manage it.
If you’re experiencing bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth after wisdom teeth removal, this article is for you. Read on to know what can cause a bad taste in your mouth and how you can manage it.
Wisdom Tooth Removal and Bad Breath
Have you been noticing a bad taste in your mouth after wisdom teeth removal? But is bad breath or a bad taste linked to wisdom teeth removal?
There are many reasons for bad breath, and tooth removal is one of them. Habits like smoking or drinking can also add to the bad breath or taste in such an extensive way that you won’t be able to tell where the bad breath is coming from.
However, studies have demonstrated that there is a link between wisdom teeth removal and bad breath. And there are a few reasons for this.
What Causes Bad Breath After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
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Flow Of Blood
When you’re getting your teeth removed, you are first put to sleep or under anesthesia. Then, a pair of forceps is used to pull out the tooth by its root. This can cause a lot of bleeding as there is now a big opening in your gums. It is a wound that can take a few days to clot and heal itself. The blood that is released from your gums can create an unpleasant taste and odor in your mouth.
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Poor Oral Hygiene After Extraction
As previously stated, the open wound that is caused by wisdom tooth removal can take time to heal. This wound is usually also incredibly sensitive during the first few days. So you might avoid brushing in that area to avoid disrupting the healing process. However, this causes a build-up of tartar and bacteria that eventually makes your mouth taste and smell foul.
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Medications
You might be prescribed some medications by your dentist to help you heal. Bad breath can be a side effect of these medications.
Is It Normal to Have Bad Breath?
Bad breath is more common than you think and can happen for a number of reasons. Sometimes it’s just because of the time of the day — we’ve all heard of morning breath. If you’ve just had your wisdom teeth removed, you will most certainly experience a rancid-like taste in your mouth. And if you naturally have breath problems, it would probably add to the bad taste in mouth after wisdom teeth removal.
How Long Does It Last?
How long bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth after wisdom teeth removal will last will depend on how fast that wound in our mouth is healing. If you’re following up on your medications and brushing your teeth well, it will usually subside in a day or two.
However, if the bad breath persists beyond that, it may be time to consider other factors that may be causing bad breath and taste in your mouth. For example, what’s in your body and the things you consume can play a major role in your oral hygiene.
Other Causes of Bad Breath
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Food
One of the main causes of bad breath is what you consume. Some foods are known to leave residue in the mouth that can cause bad breath for a long time. And if you’re not brushing regularly, the food residue that may be stuck in your teeth can start giving off an even more pungent smell.
Here are some foods that cause bad breath:
#1. Garlic
#2. Onions
#3. Dairy
#4. Horseradish
#5. Coffee
#6. Alcohol
#7. Peanut Butter
#8. Fish
Sometimes, adding fresh herbs like parsley, basil or mint can help mitigate the bad breath as they contain strong oils. There are also several fresh fruits you can eat like melons, pears, and apples that help mask the bad taste of tooth removal.
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Poor Dental Hygiene
Every time you eat, small bits of food can get stuck in your teeth, gums, and on your tongue. After a while, bacteria in your mouth begin to feed on these food bits and produce a sticky film on your teeth called plaque.
Plaque contains acids that can break down the enamel on your teeth and cause cavities. If left untreated, it can even result in root canals. Extended periods of not brushing can also lead to the plaque hardening into tartar, which is a calcified deposit that even brushing won’t get rid of.
Not brushing regularly can increase the chances of tooth decay and gum disease, which will cause foul breath. The most ideal dental care routine is brushing, flossing, and using a tongue scraper to clean your tongue. It’s important to brush after every meal or twice a day at the least.
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Dry Mouth
Saliva helps to clean your mouth. So if you have a dry mouth, it can cause bad breath. The best way to avoid this is to stay hydrated, especially during the summers.
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Tobacco
Smoking tobacco can make your breath stink and in many ways.
#1. The smell of the cigarette smoke still lingering on your breath.
#2. Smoking can cause mouth dryness.
#3. Studies have shown that smoking can lead to gum diseases and tooth loss, both of which cause bad breath.
#4. Eating tobacco can cause stains on your teeth that are hard to remove with brushing.
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Infections
Mouth infections like gum disease, chronic sinus infections, respiratory infections, bronchitis, food poisoning are all examples of infections that are correlated to bad breath. Other health conditions like diabetes, GERD, and kidney disease are also known to cause bad breath.
To reduce your risk of infections, you need to eat well and exercise so that your body’s immune system is strengthened. A lot of the time, the causes of bad breath are deeply rooted in lifestyle choices.
How To Get Rid of Bad Taste After Wisdom Teeth Removal
One of the main reasons why you may be experiencing a bad taste is the course of antibiotics. Once the course is over, that taste will subside. As for the annoying blood taste, there are some ways to take care of that. Here are some tips:
#1. Brush your teeth regularly and carefully to avoid the area your tooth was extracted from. Avoid using mouthwash until your wound heals.
#2. Rinse your mouth with warm saline water multiple times a day.
#3. Eat/drink foods like parsley, apples, pears, celery, carrots, yogurt, green tea, and cucumbers. They all help mask bad breath and leave your palate with a good taste.
#4. Avoid smoking or drinking for a few days.
#5. Consider purchasing a low-strength 100% natural mouth freshener spray, but only in extreme cases.