I get the worry, totally—when my stitches from a wisdom tooth removal took forever to dissolve, I started thinking something was wrong. My dentist swore it was normal too, but it’s so hard not to overthink every little twinge in your mouth. Did you notice any weird taste or swelling while you waited? I kept checking for infection signs, probably more than necessary...
My dentist swore it was normal too, but it’s so hard not to overthink every little twinge in your mouth.
Totally get that. I remember after my extraction, I was obsessed with every weird taste or ache—kept peeking in the mirror like it would magically tell me if things were okay. Honestly, I didn’t notice much swelling, but there was this odd “stitch” flavor for a few days. My dentist said unless there’s major pain, pus, or swelling that gets worse, it’s probably just the stitches doing their thing.
Did you have any trouble eating certain foods while waiting for yours to dissolve? I stuck to soups and yogurt way longer than I needed just because I was paranoid about messing something up.
Honestly, I think a lot of folks baby their mouth way more than needed after these procedures. Unless your dentist gave you super strict instructions, most people can start eating soft solid foods pretty soon. I’ve seen plenty of patients stress out for weeks over stitches that just hang around—they usually dissolve on their own timetable. That “stitch” taste is weird but harmless in most cases. If you’re not seeing red flags like worsening pain or swelling, it’s probably fine to move past the yogurt sooner than you think.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve had my fair share of dental work over the years—implants, extractions, root canals, you name it. Every time, I catch myself worrying more than I probably need to. Reading this made me laugh a little because it’s spot on:
I’ve seen plenty of patients stress out for weeks over stitches that just hang around—they usually dissolve on their own timetable.
That’s been my experience too. The first time I had dissolvable stitches, I was convinced something was wrong when they were still there after almost two weeks. I even called the dentist’s office, and the assistant just told me, “Give it another week.” Sure enough, they vanished on their own right after that call. Now if I get that weird “stitch” taste or feel a bit of a thread in my mouth, I just remind myself it’s part of the process.
One thing I’d add is that while it’s good not to baby your mouth forever, it’s also okay to be cautious at first. Some folks bounce back faster than others. For me, soft foods for a few days is just peace of mind—then back to toast and eggs (nothing too crunchy) once things don’t feel so tender.
The only time I’d really worry is if there’s increasing pain or swelling, like you said. Otherwise, these little annoyances are just part of healing up. It’s funny how much energy we spend stressing over stuff that sorts itself out.
If anyone else is reading this and feeling anxious about stitches not dissolving “on schedule,” you’re not alone. It can take longer than you expect... and that’s usually fine.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve caught myself poking at stitches with my tongue, half convinced they’d never disappear. It’s wild how our minds fixate on the tiniest thing when we’re healing. For me, it took a couple rounds of dental work to finally relax about it. If it’s not hurting or swelling, I just chalk it up to my body doing its thing—even if it takes a bit longer than the pamphlet says. Patience isn’t easy, but it’s usually worth it.
