Yeah, I totally get the overthinking part—my daughter had her implant surgery last year and I was basically on edge for a week straight, just watching those stitches. It’s wild how much you notice every little thing when you’re worried about healing. For her, the stitches seemed to hang around forever (or at least it felt like it to me), and I kept checking with a flashlight to see if they were finally gone. Her dentist also mentioned the whole saliva thing, which I’d never heard of before. Apparently, some people’s saliva breaks down the material faster? I guess there’s no one-size-fits-all.
She complained a lot about that weird taste too, and honestly, I didn’t know what to tell her except to keep up with the saltwater rinses like you said. It did help, but she still made faces every time. I was nervous about her brushing near the stitches, so we switched to a super soft toothbrush and tried to keep it gentle. Still, she managed to catch a thread once and freaked out thinking she’d ruined everything. Turns out it was fine, but my stress level went through the roof for a minute.
I did wonder if age would make a difference since she’s only 11, but now I’m thinking it really just depends on luck and maybe how careful you are with eating and cleaning. The dentist reassured us that as long as there’s no pain or swelling, things are probably on track—even if those stitches seem stubborn. I still checked them every night though... just in case. Funny how something so tiny can take over your brain for days.
That flashlight-checking habit is way too familiar. I’ve seen so many parents do the same thing, and honestly, I’d probably be right there with you if it was my own kid. Those stitches just seem to take on a life of their own, especially when you’re watching them every night. It’s wild how much more you notice when it’s someone you care about—every little bit of redness or swelling suddenly feels like a five-alarm fire.
The saliva thing gets people every time. I remember one family that swore their son’s stitches dissolved in half the time compared to their daughter’s, and they were convinced it had something to do with him being a “drooler” as a baby. Not exactly scientific, but hey, sometimes those old wives’ tales have a kernel of truth. There’s definitely a lot of variation—sometimes it’s just the type of suture material, sometimes it’s just the person.
That weird taste complaint is super common, especially with dissolvable stitches. Saltwater rinses are about the only thing that helps, but even then, kids will let you know if they’re not fans. I had one little guy who started calling it his “pirate mouth” and would make dramatic faces every time his mom handed him the cup. At least he kept a sense of humor about it.
You nailed it with the soft toothbrush trick. I always tell folks to swap out for the gentlest brush they can find, and just go slow. Even adults get nervous about snagging a stitch—one patient called me panicked after she thought she’d “ripped out” her whole implant because she saw a thread in the sink. Nine times out of ten, it’s just a loose end coming free, but those moments will age you fast.
Age can play a role, but honestly, careful hygiene and a bit of luck do most of the heavy lifting. As long as there’s no pain, swelling, or weird drainage, things are usually headed in the right direction. That said, I totally get why you’d keep checking. Sometimes peace of mind is worth all those extra flashlight batteries.
Flashlight checks? I swear, I could’ve given airport security a run for their money after my implant. Every little twinge and I was convinced something had gone sideways. Those dissolvable stitches tasted like I’d been chewing on a rubber band... but hey, the “pirate mouth” bit cracks me up. Kids handle it better than most adults, honestly.
Those dissolvable stitches tasted like I’d been chewing on a rubber band...
Totally relate. My kid kept poking at them with her tongue, and I was constantly peering in there with my phone flashlight. Every time she winced, I panicked. Honestly, the “pirate mouth” phase had me more stressed than her. Kids are tougher than we think, but I’m still checking for weird swelling or anything off… probably overdoing it, but can’t help myself.
Honestly, the “pirate mouth” phase had me more stressed than her. Kids are tougher than we think, but I’m still checking for weird swelling or anything off… probably overdoing it, but can’t help myself.
That “pirate mouth” description made me laugh because that’s exactly how I felt after my own implant surgery. Except in my case, I was the one poking at the stitches with my tongue and then immediately regretting it. Couldn’t resist though—there’s just something about having those weird threads in your mouth that makes you hyper-aware of every little bump and twinge.
I remember sitting on the couch with a flashlight app open, trying to take a selfie of the inside of my own cheek just to see if things looked “normal.” Spoiler: they never do, at least not to me. Every time I spotted a bit of redness or what looked like swelling, I’d convince myself it was infected. Ended up calling my dentist twice in one week, and both times they reassured me it was all part of the healing process.
I get what you mean about kids being tougher, though. My niece had some dental work done last year and she barely complained, just got annoyed that she couldn’t eat chips for a few days. Meanwhile, I was obsessing over whether my stitches were dissolving “too fast” or “not fast enough.” Honestly, I wish I could be as chill as she was.
It’s hard not to worry when it’s someone you care about (or yourself), but from what I’ve seen—and what my dentist keeps telling me—some swelling and weird sensations are pretty normal unless there’s major pain or fever. Still doesn’t stop me from checking in the mirror every few hours... old habits die hard, I guess.
Anyway, you’re definitely not alone in feeling anxious about this stuff. If anything looks really off or gets worse instead of better, that’s when they say to call—but most of the time it’s just our brains going into overdrive.
