Bad smell 7 weeks after tooth extraction

[ripply]

I had my upper first molar extracted and the dentist (he's an oral surgeon) said it went well and hadn't affected my sinus. It healed up fast but I started having bad breath about 4 days after the extraction. It used to come and go, but now it's all the time. Nothing else has changed eg: in my diet. I'm not on any medication and I'm always careful about brushing/flossing. I've never had this problem in my life before. At the 2 week check up, the dentist seemed really pleased with how it had healed, but I didn't mention this odour as I assumed it was something that would go away soon.

Now I know I need to see him about this but I keep putting it off as I'm terrified of what he'll do. I've no pain around the extraction, or sinus pain, so from what I've read online, I keep thinking I must have a severe bone infection. Will the dentist have to cut into my gums and remove bone? I feel so sick with worry every time I think about it. And there's no point in me making an appointment if he'll have to do anything like that because I couldn't cope at all.

 

[drm]

With no pain or sign of infection your oral surgeon likely wouldn't go back into the extraction site. I'd recommend you go in just to have him take a look and make sure everything is healing well. If the site where the tooth came out has any indentations you may just be trapping a little food in the area leading to the bad breath. These will usually heal over more smoothly given time.

 

[ripply]

Thank you. It's reassuring that he probably won't have to do anything awful and might just have a look. I still have no pain at all. I'll try to be brave and make an appointment for the dentist to check it. I really hope it's something simple.