What Do Wisdom Teeth Sutures Look Like? Understanding the Stitches

From the moment you hear “we’ll need to remove your wisdom teeth,” your brain starts racing. What will the stitches look like? Will they hurt? How long do they stay in? And how are you supposed to brush your teeth around them? Breathe. You’re not alone—and we’ve got answers.

Wisdom Teeth Stitches: What’s Actually in Your Mouth?

Right after a wisdom tooth extraction, one of the first things you might notice is a tug or tightness in the back of your mouth. That’s the suture—tiny stitches your dentist or oral surgeon uses to close the surgical site and keep the area protected while it heals.

These stitches might look like little dark threads peeking out along your gumline, either neat and tucked in or sometimes curling slightly outward. If you’re expecting something Frankenstein-level dramatic, good news: they’re usually subtle and much smaller than you think. Still, it’s totally normal to feel a little weird about them the first few days.

Why You Get Stitches After a Wisdom Tooth Removal

Not every wisdom tooth extraction involves stitches, but many do. If your teeth were impacted, the surgeon likely had to cut through gum tissue (and sometimes even bone) to get them out. Sutures help seal the socket and reduce the risk of infection or complications like a dry socket.

Also, if there’s facial swelling or if the tooth came out in pieces (which isn’t uncommon), closing the wound with stitches supports faster healing and less post-op drama.

The Curious World of Dissolvable Stitches

If your dentist mentioned “dissolvable stitches,” you're probably wondering what that means. These aren’t magic, but they’re pretty close. Dissolvable stitches (also called absorbable sutures) are designed to naturally break down in your body over time—no return trip required to get them pulled.

They’re typically made of a material like polyglycolic acid or plain gut (yes, real tissue), and they disintegrate as your gum tissue heals. That means you don’t need to panic if you wake up and notice a stitch is gone. It likely just did its job and bowed out quietly.

So, How Do These Stitches Dissolve?

The stitches usually start to dissolve within a few days to a week, depending on the type. Some hang in there up to 2 weeks or more, especially if they were placed deep in the socket. As the gum heals and moisture breaks down the suture material, the stitches soften, weaken, and either fall out or simply disappear on their own.

You might even see a hanging thread or feel something move while you’re eating or rinsing. That’s normal, though if anything feels sharp, pokey, or like it’s stuck in a weird way, don’t play dentist—just call your dentist or oral surgeon and ask.

The Healing Process: What to Expect

Healing after wisdom teeth removal usually takes about 1 to 2 weeks for the surface tissue, and a few months for the socket deep down. The stitches are there for the early phase—to hold the gum together and let that all-important blood clot stay put in the extraction site.

This clot is crucial. It covers the bone and nerve endings in the socket and kicks off the natural healing process. If it gets dislodged too soon, you risk a painful condition called dry socket. That’s why aftercare matters—a lot.

What Do Stitches Look Like After a Few Days?

In the first couple of days, the stitches may look a bit dark—black, brown, or even slightly purple, depending on the type. As your gums begin to heal and swelling goes down, the surgical site will look less angry and more like normal tissue. The stitches might start to curl or fade in color before they fully dissolve or fall out.

If you notice food stuck in them or they look frayed, try not to pick at them. Gently rinse with a saltwater solution and let nature do its thing.

How Long Does It Take for Wisdom Teeth Stitches to Dissolve?

On average, stitches dissolve anywhere between 5 to 14 days after oral surgery. Some absorbable sutures are designed to stick around longer, but most people notice their stitches either come loose and fall out or disappear after a week or two.

If yours are still going strong after 3 weeks, it might be time for a check-in. Occasionally, stitches don’t dissolve as expected, and your dentist might need to remove them manually—but that’s usually quick and painless.

Taking Care of Your Mouth (Even with Stitches in It)

Okay, you’ve got stitches in your mouth. Now what? For starters, skip the vigorous brushing and flossing near the extraction site. Use a soft toothbrush, and go easy. You can still keep up oral hygiene by brushing the rest of your teeth and rinsing gently with warm salt water.

Pro tip: don’t swish too hard. You don’t want to dislodge that blood clot or pull on your stitches. After every meal, rinse to remove food debris and bacteria—saltwater or an antibacterial chlorhexidine solution (if prescribed) can help reduce the risk of infection.

Aftercare Instructions That Actually Matter

Taking care of your mouth after wisdom teeth extraction isn’t complicated, but it does require some attention. Here’s what we recommend:

• Gently rinse with warm saltwater starting the second day

• Avoid straws (the suction can dislodge the clot)

• Stick to soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, or soup

• Don’t poke at your stitches or socket with your tongue (tempting, we know)

• Use pain relief medication as advised by your dentist

• Avoid alcohol and smoking—they slow down healing

Stitches are typically in place just long enough to get you through the fragile part of the healing time. After that, the tissue takes over.

Tell If Your Wisdom Teeth Are Healing Properly

You’ll know things are going well if the swelling reduces within a few days, the bleeding stops, and the discomfort fades rather than flares up. Some tightness, pulling, or slight sensitivity around the gum is normal, especially when chewing or talking.

If you notice intense pain several days after surgery, foul smell, or a bad taste that won’t go away, it might be a dry socket—or an infection. And yes, we hate to say it, but you’ll need to call your dentist or oral surgeon.

Stitches After Wisdom Teeth Removal: Don't Overthink Them

We get it—getting stitches after wisdom teeth removal can feel scary. But in reality, they’re just part of the post-operative toolkit that helps your mouth heal faster and with fewer complications. Most people never need to touch them, think about them, or even notice them much after the first few days.

That said, it’s always smart to follow your dentist’s post-op instructions closely. Every mouth heals a little differently, and if something feels off—like a stitch tugging too tight, a weird taste, or unexpected pain—speak up.

Final Bite: A Friendly Note on Recovery

Getting your wisdom teeth removed is one of those dental rites of passage. It’s not exactly fun, but it’s way more manageable than most people expect. The stitches are tiny helpers working quietly in the background, holding things together while your body does what it does best—heal.

So take it easy, keep your mouth clean, avoid dry sockets, and trust that your body (with a little help from your dental team) has this covered. If anything’s unclear, uncomfortable, or just plain weird—your dentist is only a phone call away.