Can I brush my teeth after wisdom teeth removal?

The short answer

You do not need to stop cleaning your mouth after wisdom teeth surgery. A clean mouth heals better, and the NHS tells patients to clean the other teeth carefully. What changes is how you do it: you avoid the surgical site so you do not disturb the stitches or the blood clot, and you avoid forceful rinsing and spitting at first.

The sources do differ in detail, so the sections below show the range. If your surgeon gave you written instructions, they take priority over any general guide.

Brushing on the day of surgery and the first 24 hours

Advice for the first day varies slightly between sources. The NHS recovery page says to clean your other teeth carefully and avoid the treated area. A hospital leaflet from Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust goes further and advises brushing twice daily in the first 24 to 48 hours, while avoiding scratching or traumatising the extraction socket.

Both agree on the principle: keep brushing, but keep the bristles away from the wound. A soft toothbrush and light pressure make this easier, and many people find it simplest to skip the back of the mouth on the surgical side for the first day or two.

Why you protect the blood clot

After a tooth is removed a blood clot forms in the socket, and it protects the wound while it heals. If it is lost or dislodged, the bone and nerve beneath can be exposed, which is called dry socket. The NHS lists dry socket, infection and nerve damage causing numbness or tingling in the tongue, lips or chin as possible complications to watch for.

This is why aftercare leaflets warn against anything that creates suction or force around the socket: vigorous rinsing, spitting, straws, poking the area with your tongue or fingers, and smoking.

Rinsing and mouthwash

Rinsing has its own timing. The Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust leaflet says not to rinse or spit for 24 hours, and then to rinse gently with warm salt water (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) two to three times a day for three days. Healthline's recovery guide likewise says to avoid spitting, swishing and rinsing for the first 24 hours.

The Bedfordshire leaflet says not to rinse vigorously for the first 24 hours and then to rinse three to four times a day after meals for 10 days with warm salty water, or a gentle home mouthwash. The NHS recovery page says to rinse gently with mouthwash or warm salt water to keep the wound clean. The common thread is that it should be gentle, begin after the first day, and be done after meals so food does not collect in the socket.

• First 24 hours: avoid rinsing, swishing and spitting hard.
• After 24 hours: gentle warm salt water rinses, letting the water fall out of your mouth rather than spitting forcefully.
• Mouthwash: the NHS and the Bedfordshire leaflet allow a gentle mouthwash; if you are unsure whether yours is suitable, ask your surgeon.

How to brush safely in the first week

Use a soft brush and a small amount of toothpaste, and brush the teeth you can reach without letting the bristles touch the socket or stitches. Clean the tongue gently and spit softly, letting the toothpaste foam run out of your mouth. As the days pass and the area becomes less tender, you can brush closer to the site, still without scrubbing the socket itself.

If you cannot open your mouth wide because of stiffness, a smaller or child-sized brush can help. The NHS notes that stiffness, bruising and discomfort when chewing or swallowing can last up to two weeks.

Smoking, vaping and healing

Cleaning habits are only part of protecting the socket. The NHS says not to smoke because it raises the risk of infection. The Kent leaflet advises avoiding smoking for 24 to 48 hours, while the Bedfordshire leaflet says not to smoke or vape for at least 72 hours to reduce the risk of delayed healing and dry socket. Those are different numbers, so ask your surgeon how long they want you to wait.

Frequently asked questions