Would you freak out if your stitches took longer to dissolve?

Totally get the paranoia about stitches just...vanishing. I kept poking at mine with my tongue like they were going to unravel any second. From what my oral surgeon told me, rinsing gently is good, but obsessively swishing or eating super hot stuff can actually slow things down. That said, I ate a lot of ice cream and mashed potatoes, and mine still took forever. Healing’s more like a moody roommate - never on schedule, but eventually gets their act together.

I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I never worried much about how long the stitches took. Mine stuck around for almost three weeks after my wisdom teeth came out, and my dentist just shrugged it off - said it’s pretty normal. I actually found poking at them made things feel worse, so I just tried to forget about them. The only time I’d freak is if there was pain or swelling that got worse, but otherwise, I figure slow and steady is better than rushing the healing.

I get the whole “don’t poke at them” thing - I always tell patients to leave stitches alone. But honestly, if they’re still hanging around past two weeks, I start to get a little nervous. Had a patient once who thought it was normal, but turns out one stitch got trapped under the gum and started causing irritation. No major drama, but it did mean an extra appointment to get it out. Maybe I just worry too much, but I’d rather double-check than wait for something to go wrong...

But honestly, if they’re still hanging around past two weeks, I start to get a little nervous.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve had stitches take almost three weeks to dissolve after my wisdom teeth came out. My ortho just told me to keep things clean and not stress unless there was pain or swelling. Step by step, I just checked for redness or weird taste, and if nothing changed, I figured it was fine. Sometimes the dissolvable stuff just takes its sweet time... doesn’t always mean something’s wrong.

Mine hung around for nearly a month after my extraction, and my dentist said as long as there’s no pain or funky swelling, it’s usually nothing to worry about. I did get a weird taste once, but it cleared up after rinsing with salt water. Has anyone actually had stitches that didn’t dissolve at all? Wondering if that’s even possible or just super rare.

Has anyone actually had stitches that didn’t dissolve at all? Wondering if that’s even possible or just super rare.

I’ve heard of it happening, but it’s not common. Mine took almost five weeks and I started to worry too, but my ortho said sometimes they just hang on longer depending on your saliva or if you’re a “slow healer.” I did end up having one stubborn stitch removed at a follow-up. As long as there’s no pain or swelling, it’s usually just annoying rather than dangerous.

I see this come up a lot, and honestly, it’s more common than people think for stitches to hang around way longer than you’d expect. I’ve had patients come in totally convinced something’s wrong just because a suture didn’t budge after a month. Usually it’s just the body being slow about breaking it down. Some folks just don’t dissolve the material as fast - saliva chemistry, healing speed, even how much you’re talking or eating can play a role.

But I do get anxious about leaving them in too long, even if there’s no pain or redness. I’ve seen rare cases where an old stitch irritated the gum or trapped food... not dangerous, but definitely annoying and sometimes it starts smelling funky. Have you noticed any weird taste or swelling? That’s when I’d start worrying.

Curious - has anyone ever had to have stitches physically removed after months? I always wonder if leaving them that long could cause more irritation than just taking them out early.

- Seen this a bunch - sometimes those dissolvable stitches just like to stick around.
- I’ve had to snip a couple out for people after 2-3 months. No big deal if there’s no pain or swelling, but yeah, food can get trapped and it gets annoying.
- Personally, I’d rather take out a stubborn stitch than let it irritate the gum for ages.
- As long as it’s not red, swollen, or tasting weird, I wouldn’t stress. But if it bugs you, just ask to have it checked.

Wouldn’t freak out unless it’s red, puffy, or giving off that “uh-oh” taste. I’ve seen stitches hang out way past their welcome - sometimes they’re just stubborn. If it’s comfy and not catching lunch leftovers, you’re probably fine. But if it’s bugging you, snip-snip is easy.

Had a couple stitches hang on for way longer than I expected after getting my wisdom teeth yanked. Was kinda weird, but as long as it wasn’t hurting or looking gnarly, I just let it be. Dentist said sometimes they just don’t wanna dissolve on schedule. One finally came out while I was eating popcorn... bit of a surprise, but no big deal. If it’s not angry or gross, I wouldn’t stress too much.

One finally came out while I was eating popcorn... bit of a surprise, but no big deal.

That popcorn moment made me laugh - had almost the same thing happen, except mine was with a tortilla chip. I had two stitches from my wisdom teeth that just wouldn’t budge for weeks. I kept checking in the mirror, thinking, is this gonna cost me another appointment? But the dentist said if it’s not red or swollen, just let it do its thing.

Honestly, I get anxious about anything that might mean another bill, so I was relieved when they finally dissolved (well, one got stuck in my toothbrush and freaked me out for a sec). As long as there’s no pain or weird smell, I try not to stress. Dental stuff can get expensive fast - if waiting it out saves me an extra trip, I’m all for it.

Man, I swear those stitches have a mind of their own. Mine took almost a month to disappear and I was convinced they were plotting against me. That toothbrush moment? Been there, jumped a foot in the air. Did anyone else get weird phantom pokes from the spot even after the stitches were gone?

Dude, I totally get those phantom pokes. Had mine out months ago and sometimes it still feels like something’s there, especially when I’m brushing. Guess nerves just take their sweet time resetting, huh? Kinda wild how the body works.

Yeah, I still get that weird sensation too, like there’s something stuck back there even though it’s been a while. I’ve read that the nerves can take months to chill out, which makes sense, but it’s kinda annoying. Did your stitches dissolve on schedule? Mine lingered for almost three weeks and I started wondering if that was normal or if I was just being paranoid. Maybe it’s just how everyone heals a bit differently.

Three weeks sounds pretty normal from what I’ve seen. Mine actually hung around closer to a month, and I remember poking at them with my tongue way too much. It’s hard not to get a little paranoid when you expect things to be gone sooner, but the dentist told me it’s just how some folks heal. I wouldn’t say I freaked out, but I did start to wonder if I should call. Ended up they just dissolved on their own, no issues. That weird “something’s there” feeling stuck around for a while too. Guess nerves and tissue just take their sweet time getting back to normal. Doesn’t help that you notice every little thing in your mouth, right?

- Had wisdom teeth out last year - my stitches took nearly five weeks to disappear.
- Dentist said it’s normal, but I checked daily because it just felt weird.
- That sensation of “something stuck” lingered even after they dissolved.
- Healing pace really varies; poking with your tongue only makes you more aware.
- Honestly, unless there’s pain or swelling, waiting it out seems fine.

Five weeks?! That would definitely mess with my head a bit. I get that it’s “normal,” but I’d probably be poking at it constantly and convincing myself it was turning into some mutant tooth. Is it really safe to just ignore it if it takes ages? I feel like I'd be the one calling the dentist every week just to double check...

It’s pretty common for dissolvable stitches to hang around longer than expected, especially in the mouth where healing can be a bit unpredictable. I get why you’d want to check in, but unless there’s pain, swelling, or weird discharge, it’s usually not urgent. Honestly, constantly poking at it can actually slow things down or irritate the area more. Most dentists would say just keep it clean and let your body do its thing. If something feels off though, that’s when it’s worth a call - not just because the stitch is still there.

I’ve had stitches in my mouth last for almost three weeks before they finally disappeared, and I was obsessing over them the whole time. Did anyone else notice the area feeling a little bumpy even after the stitch dissolved? Or is that just me being paranoid?

Did anyone else notice the area feeling a little bumpy even after the stitch dissolved? Or is that just me being paranoid?

That bumpy sensation isn’t unusual, honestly. After stitches dissolve, it’s pretty common for the tissue to feel firmer or slightly raised for a while as it heals. Scar tissue can form, and sometimes the area takes weeks to smooth out. Did your dentist mention anything about possible scar tissue or healing timelines? I’ve seen cases where that “bumpiness” lingers for a month or more, especially if the area was irritated by food or brushing. If you’re not seeing redness or pain, it’s probably just normal healing, but it’s always worth keeping an eye on.