Caring for Stitches After Dental Surgery
A practical guide to looking after stitches (sutures) in your mouth after dental surgery or mouth surgery.
Urgent help: who to contact
Call 999 or go to A&E now if you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, or if swelling spreads to your neck, under your tongue or around your eye.
Contact your dental team if all your stitches come out very early (in the first 2–3 days) and the wound is gaping open, or if you see signs of infection (pain that is getting worse, swelling, pus, or a temperature above 38°C), or if bleeding will not stop. If you cannot reach them, call NHS 111.
About Your Stitches
Stitches (sutures) are put in after mouth surgery. They hold the edges of the wound together. They also protect the healing tissue underneath and reduce bleeding. Your dental team will have told you which type of stitches you have.
- Dissolving stitches (resorbable) are the type used most in dentistry. They dissolve on their own over 1–3 weeks, so they do not need to be removed. Your body slowly absorbs the material. As they dissolve, they may feel a bit loose or stringy. This is normal.
- Non-dissolving stitches (non-resorbable) are less common in routine dental surgery. They are sometimes used for specialist treatment. They need to be removed at a follow-up visit, usually 7–10 days after surgery. Your dental team will have told you if you have these, and booked a visit to remove them.
How to Care for the Area
The stitches hold the wound together. Your job is to keep the area clean and not disturb them.
- Do not rinse your mouth on the day of surgery. This lets the blood clot form without being disturbed.
- From day 2 onwards, rinse gently with warm salty water after every meal. Use half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Let the water fall gently out of your mouth. Do not swish it around hard.
- Brush your other teeth carefully. Avoid the stitched area for the first 5–7 days. Then start to clean gently near it with a very soft brush.
- Do not poke the stitches with your tongue, a finger or anything else.
- Eat soft foods that do not need hard chewing near the stitches.
- If you were prescribed chlorhexidine (antiseptic) mouthwash, use it as directed.
What Is Normal With Stitches
These things are completely normal and nothing to worry about:
- Stitches feeling loose, or the thread hanging down a little, as dissolving stitches start to break down
- The healing wound looking white or yellow. This is fibrin, which is normal healing tissue.
- Some stitches dissolving sooner than others. They do not all dissolve at the same speed.
- A slightly salty or metal taste near the wound in the first few days
- Mild tenderness and swelling for the first 3–7 days
- A little bleeding, or pink-tinged spit, in the first 24 hours
If you swallow a dissolving stitch that has come out early, this is harmless. The material dissolves in the body.
Signs of Poor Healing or Infection
Know the signs that the wound is not healing as it should:
- Pain that is getting worse after day 2–3, instead of slowly getting better. This matters most if the site looks empty. It could be a dry socket after a tooth has been taken out.
- Pus or yellow-green fluid coming from the wound
- The edges of the wound opening up (dehiscence), so the wound looks gaping instead of closed
- A lot of swelling that is getting worse after day 4
- A temperature above 38°C
- A bad taste or smell from the wound that lasts more than a week
If you notice any of these, contact your dental practice for advice. Treating wound problems early stops them becoming more serious.
When to Contact Your Dental Team
Contact your dental practice if:
- Your non-dissolving stitches have not been removed within 10 days, and you have no visit booked to remove them
- All your stitches come out within the first 2–3 days and the wound is open or gaping
- You notice any of the signs of infection listed above
- Bleeding from the wound does not stop after 30 minutes of firm pressure
- The wound or stitches cause a lot of pain or discomfort that is not getting better
Call 999 or go to A&E now if you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, or if swelling spreads to your neck, under your tongue or around your eye. For other urgent problems, contact your dental practice. If it is closed, call NHS 111.
This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. Your dental team will discuss your individual circumstances and any risks specific to you. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances.
Sources
- Management of Acute Dental Problems, 2nd edition. Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP), 2026.
- What to do following an extraction. Oral Health Foundation.
Links checked 18 October 2026.
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