Salt Water Mouth Wash?

[giles]

Just had a wisdom tooth out, on the NHS. Surprisingly straightforward.

Afterwards, nurse said "Do you smoke?"
Me: "No, but I use electronic cigarettes"
Nurse: "You should use patches instead for a week"
Me: weary smile
Nurse: "They contain nicotine don't they?"
Me: "Yes"
Nurse: "It stops blood getting to the gum"
Me: looks at her
Nurse: "Well, reduces it"

Anyway, the piece of paper they gave me says I should mix a teaspoon of salt into a tumbler of hot water, take a large mouthful, leave it in my mouth for a minute before spitting out, and repeat until the glass is empty; and I should do this after all meals and before bed for a week.

So my question is, does anyone actually do this (the salt water, not the patches - surely no-one does the patches)? Or is it more like 1/2 glass couple of times for a couple of days? Or not at all? And do you suffer if you don't?

[annie50]

Hi giles

I always do the salt water rinse after a tooth extraction.
I have a blood disorder though and have to have medication to encourage clotting.
This means I have a tendancy to get a dry socket because the meds stop me bleeding. The salt water stops infection, it is also brilliant for keeping the socket clean.

I never stopped smoking though and the next time I have a tooth out, it won't stop me vaping either. Just my choice

[meeee]

I had a tooth out last week and was told the same. I didn't do it though, But thats just me. I think is meant to aid the healing process, but I didn't have much blood loss when the tooth was pulled out so presumed that my gum was not to badly injured in the process.

[Deleted]

Salt water does wonders for healing, I'd recommend using Sea salt though, as table salt contains Iodine which can cause irritation and dryness to the skin.

[Kaaru]

What Annie said, and yes I did use the saltwater...

[Karma]

Do it giles (not the patches) you do not want a dry socket May seem like a bit of a faff, but the salt water will aid healing and kill any infection

edited to add, don't swoosh and swirll  just hold the water in your mouth then spit, too much swooshing can upset the extraction site 

[elisefox]

Yup, I did the salt water rinses too and Karma is right, no swooshing and no spitting, just let it dribble out. The reason for not smoking or spitting is that the sucking/spitting action might dislodge the newly formed clot which will result in a dry socket, also no drinking through straws either for the same reason (my dentist explained the actual reason why after my horrified look!). My sister suffered dry socket after a tooth extraction and after seeing her pain I wouldn't wish it on anyone

Though... I don't suck hard when I vape, it's a much more gentle intake than smoking so I would have thought you'd most likely get away with it if you take it easy, I'd definitely do the salt water thing though.

[Perpetua]

I've always smoked like a trooper after any extraction Giles . . . but followed the salt water mouth wash religiously for 2 days. My dentist advises against doing it for any longer than that.

I do exactly the same now I vape.

[mully]

+1 for saltwater rinses and using an airy attie/light drags for a few days

[Deleted]

It works on the same principle as a piercing (which i've had many 40+) do it once, at most twice a day to gently clean the wound, any more than like and you will dislodge all the healing goodness and be back to square one.

But yes, Do your salt water washes it helped my extraction 10 fold, and my extraction was a hell of a thing, she had to drill through it and get a torque bar kinda thing and stick her foot on the chair to get it out lol.

[rich64]

I had a tooth out about 4 weeks ago and i did nt use a salt mouthwash , it got infected and took around 10 days to fully settle.

Salt mouthwash ?yes most definately

[giles]

Thanks for all the replies folks. You've convinced me - I'll be a good boy about the mouthwash

[Steve F]

+1 saltwater rinse deffo

[rich64]

Jul 10, 2013 21:16:33 GMT digiw0rx said:

It works on the same principle as a piercing (which i've had many 40+) do it once, at most twice a day to gently clean the wound, any more than like and you will dislodge all the healing goodness and be back to square one.

But yes, Do your salt water washes it helped my extraction 10 fold, and my extraction was a hell of a thing, she had to drill through it and get a torque bar kinda thing and stick her foot on the chair to get it out lol.

Id put that out of my memory banks ,same thing.. i could tell it was nt properly numbed but as she had put about 4 injections in to appease me i tried to be polite and oput up with it(that lasted about a second before the internal coward kicked right in) she eventually had to cut the tooth in half to take it out in two pieces (honestly was like all my worst dental nightmares coming true)

Thats said i think the poor dentist was left in a worse state of post dramatic than me

[Deleted]

Oh dear! I've not had an extraction without anaesetic but I've had a tooth grinded and filled without and it wasn't pleasant!