Wisdom Tooth Removal Stitches: Healing, Care and Warning Signs
Most stitches placed after wisdom tooth removal are dissolvable. They soften and loosen over the first one to three weeks, and it is common for one or two to fall out earlier. If you had your wisdom teeth out and you are staring at a loose thread in the mirror, the short answer is this: do not pull it, keep the area clean, and call your dentist if the wound opens, bleeds or looks infected.
We are Mersal Dental, a family dental office in lower town Ottawa. We take new patients, bill insurance directly, accept CDCP and IFHP, and see emergencies the same day. This guide covers what stitches are for, how long they last, how to care for them and when to phone us.
TL;DR
Stitches close the gum after a wisdom tooth comes out. They protect the blood clot and help control bleeding.
Dissolvable stitches can take up to three weeks to go, and they may fall out within a couple of days. Both are usually normal.
Never cut, pull or tug a loose stitch. Ask your dentist or oral surgeon first.
Call if bleeding does not stop, the incision opens, pain gets worse instead of better, or you have swelling, pus or fever.
If you are in Ottawa and need help now, we offer same-day emergency care.
Table of Contents
Why stitches are placed after wisdom tooth removal
Taking out a wisdom tooth, especially one that is impacted or sits under the gum, leaves a socket and an opening in the gum. MyHealth Alberta explains that stitches may be needed after the procedure, and that some dissolve over time while others have to be removed after a few days. The NHS notes that the gum is stitched if necessary, and that a blood clot forms over the wound and helps it heal.
In practical terms, stitches do three things:
They hold the gum edges together so the socket is covered.
They help keep the blood clot in place, which is the foundation of healing.
They help reduce bleeding and keep food from packing into the wound.
Not every extraction needs them. A simple extraction of a fully erupted tooth may need none. A surgical removal, where we open the gum or remove bone, usually does. Your dentist should tell you which type of stitch was used, so ask before you leave the chair. If you want to understand how we keep the procedure comfortable, read about our approach using moderate and local anesthesia.
Dissolvable or non-dissolvable stitches
Most wisdom tooth stitches are dissolvable, also called absorbable. They are made from material the body breaks down, so you do not need a return visit to have them taken out. The other type is non-dissolvable. Those stay until the dentist removes them, usually at a short follow-up visit. MyHealth Alberta lists both possibilities, which is why the question “which kind do I have?” is worth asking on the day.
Here is a simple way to think about it:
Dissolvable stitches | Non-dissolvable stitches | |
What happens | Soften, loosen and fall out or are absorbed | Stay in place until removed |
Follow-up needed | Usually only a routine check | A short visit to remove them |
Typical timeline | A couple of days to about three weeks | Removed after a few days, as your dentist advises |
What you do | Leave them alone | Leave them alone until the visit |
The timeline in the last row comes from the sources above and is a general range. Your own timeline depends on the material, the size of the incision and how your mouth heals, so follow what your dentist tells you.
How long wisdom teeth stitches take to dissolve
Patients often ask for one number. There isn’t one. A UK hospital patient leaflet says dissolvable stitches can take up to three weeks to dissolve, although they may fall out within a couple of days. That wide range is normal.
A rough picture of what many people notice:
Days 1 to 3: The gum feels tight or pulled around the stitches. Some swelling and tenderness is expected. A stitch may loosen early, because stitches are often placed to allow for swelling.
Days 4 to 7: The thread becomes softer and may look frayed or fuzzy. You might feel it with your tongue. Jaw stiffness and soreness should be easing.
Weeks 2 to 3: Most dissolvable stitches have gone. The gum should look closed and pink, even if the socket still feels slightly dented.
The gum surface closes over faster than the bone underneath. Full healing of the socket takes longer than the stitches do, so a clean mouth and patience matter even after the thread is gone.
If you are past three weeks and can still see or feel a stitch, or the area is sore, book a check. It is a quick visit and we can remove any leftover thread safely.
What normal healing looks and feels like
You should start to feel better within a few days, according to MyHealth Alberta’s home care guide. Signs that things are on track:
Soreness and swelling that peak early and then slowly ease.
A pale or whitish layer in the socket. This is usually the clot and early healing tissue, not pus.
Small bits of thread in your mouth, or a stitch that has come out, with no bleeding and a closed wound.
Slight oozing of pinkish saliva during the first day.
Food bits that you can rinse out gently once you are allowed to rinse.
MyHealth Alberta also lists pain and swelling, bleeding, slow-healing gums and dry socket as possible problems after extraction. Dry socket means the protective blood clot is lost. It often shows up as pain that increases a few days after the procedure instead of fading. Our guide to dry socket symptoms explains how to tell it apart from normal soreness.
Do dissolving stitches taste bad?
Some people notice a mildly unpleasant taste in the first week. The wound, small amounts of blood and the thread breaking down can all cause it, and it usually fades as the area heals and you keep it clean with gentle rinses. A bad taste on its own is not a reason to panic. A foul taste or smell together with increasing pain, swelling, pus or fever is different. Those are infection signs, and you should call us the same day.
If a stitch comes loose, hangs down or falls out
This is the most common worry and the one that sends people searching at night. The guidance is consistent. Healthline’s wisdom teeth stitches article says that a stitch that loosens or falls out is usually not a concern unless the wound has opened, is bleeding or shows signs of infection. It also says not to cut, pull or remove a loose or hanging stitch without your oral surgeon’s approval.
Here is what we suggest:
Stay calm and do not tug. A hanging stitch can feel like a long piece of string, but it is usually attached only loosely. Pulling can open the wound or disturb the clot.
Look at the area gently. Use a mirror and good light. Is the gum still closed? Is there fresh bleeding?
Keep the site clean. Follow the rinsing guidance below once the first 24 hours have passed.
Do not play with it. Avoid touching it with your tongue or fingers.
Call if it irritates your cheek or gum. If a long thread keeps rubbing, tell your dentist or oral surgeon. We can trim it safely.
Call right away if the wound has opened, bleeding returns or you see signs of infection.
If a stitch falls out and the area looks closed and feels comfortable, you usually do not need to do anything except keep it clean and mention it at your follow-up.
How to care for your stitches
The first day sets up everything that follows. The advice below comes from MyHealth Alberta and the Canadian Dental Association, and it matches what we tell our own patients.
The first 24 hours
Bite gently on gauze and change it when it is soaked.
Do not use a straw. Suction can loosen the blood clot and delay healing.
Do not smoke for at least 24 hours. Smoking reduces blood supply and can introduce contaminants.
Do not touch or rub the site.
Do not rinse during the first 24 hours. The CDA also advises avoiding hot liquids and alcohol so the clot stays in place.
After 24 hours
Start rinsing gently with warm salt water. The CDA suggests warm water, optionally with 1/2 teaspoon of salt per cup, 4 to 5 times a day for 3 to 4 days. Let the water fall out of your mouth. Do not swish hard.
Keep brushing your teeth and tongue, and brush carefully near the site.
Eat soft foods first, and add solid foods gradually as chewing becomes comfortable.
Keep avoiding straws and tobacco while the site heals.
For a day-by-day view, see our 48 to 72 hour wisdom tooth recovery plan and our 0 to 7 day extraction aftercare checklist. Our essential guide to extraction post-op covers pain control and eating.
Foods that work well in the first week
Choose foods that need little chewing and are not hot: yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, smoothies eaten with a spoon, soft pasta and lukewarm soup. Avoid small seeds, chips and crusty bread near the surgical site. They can lodge in the socket or catch on a stitch.
When to call your dentist
Most stitch concerns are harmless. These are not. MyHealth Alberta says to contact your dentist or a nurse advice line, or seek immediate medical care, for any of the following:
Bleeding that is uncontrolled or that starts again.
Stitches that come loose along with an open incision.
Pain that medicine does not relieve.
Signs of infection: increasing pain, swelling, warmth or redness, pus, or fever.
The same source says to call 911 for severe trouble breathing or loss of consciousness.
Two timing rules are worth remembering:
Bleeding: MyHealth Alberta advises contacting your dentist or oral surgeon if bleeding continues 24 hours after surgery. The CDA says to call if firm pressure with gauze has not controlled bleeding after 4 hours.
Swelling: The CDA says to call if swelling gets worse after 48 hours or has not gone down within 7 days.
Swelling that spreads, a bad taste with pus, or a fever can mean an abscess. Read our guides on dental abscess symptoms and tooth infection swelling for what to look for and why same-day care matters.
Our perspective at Mersal
We see the same pattern again and again. Patients are rarely worried about the extraction itself by day five. They are worried about a thread. Our advice is simple: a stitch is a small part of healing, and the clot and a clean mouth matter more.
We would rather you call about something that turns out to be normal than wait through a night of worry. A two-minute phone call, or a quick look in the chair, can settle the question. If a stitch is irritating your cheek, we can trim it safely. If the site looks wrong, we can treat it the same day.
We also think patients should leave with clear instructions in plain words: what kind of stitches they have, what is normal, what to avoid, and who to call. If you did not get that, ask us. Our team is multilingual, so you can ask in the language you are most comfortable in.
Gentle care is not only about the procedure. It continues in the days after, when you are at home and have questions.
— Mersal
Getting help in Ottawa
If you had a wisdom tooth removed and something does not feel right, we can see you. We are a family dental office in lower town Ottawa offering tooth extractions in Ottawa, including wisdom teeth, and same-day emergency dental care. We bill insurance directly and accept CDCP and IFHP. If you do not have a dentist yet, see our page for new patients in Ottawa.
Prices for treatment are not published on our site, so contact the office for details and for what your insurance or program covers.
Frequently asked questions
How long do wisdom teeth stitches take to dissolve?
Usually between a few days and about three weeks. A UK hospital leaflet says dissolvable stitches can take up to three weeks, though they may fall out within a couple of days. If one is still there after three weeks, or the area hurts, have it checked.
Is it normal for a wisdom tooth stitch to fall out early?
Yes, in most cases. A stitch that falls out is usually not a concern unless the wound has opened, is bleeding or shows signs of infection. Keep the area clean, do not touch it and mention it at your follow-up.
What should I do if a stitch is hanging in my mouth?
Do not cut or pull it unless your oral surgeon approves. Leave it alone and keep rinsing gently after the first 24 hours. If it rubs your cheek or gum, call us and we can trim it safely.
Can I brush my teeth with stitches in?
Yes. Keep brushing your teeth and tongue, and be careful near the surgical site. Rinse gently with warm salt water after the first 24 hours, and do not spit forcefully or swish hard.
Do I need the stitches removed?
Only if they are non-dissolvable. Those are removed at a short visit. Ask your dentist which type you have so you know whether to expect a follow-up.
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