Flap of skin over tooth?!


Question: My young teenage son just cut one of his molars last night and is left with a small flap of skin dangling over it. How long will it take for the skin to shrink or recede back?


Answers: My young teenage son just cut one of his molars last night and is left with a small flap of skin dangling over it. How long will it take for the skin to shrink or recede back?

well, it would really depend on the size of the "flap", but generally when skin is cut off from it's O2 supply, it will start to die very quickly. couple days or a week and it will be gone, as long as it's not something that's bleeding or constantly reopened (just general mouth movements or by an investigative tongue).

You can rinse with peroxide once or twice to ensure the wound stays clean (will bubble and fizz, don't swallow it obviously...just follow the package lable where it says mouthrinse) It won't "do" anything more than Scope or other beloved mouthrinse, except it won't burn the wound during the cleaning. Would not over use either - once or twice will allow the peroxide to eat away the dead/dying skin without injuring the gum or irritating anything.

Often these molars with break partially through the skin and then sit there with this partial piece of skin over the back half for 1 day - 1 year or so. Usually it takes about 6 months, commonly, for these to break fully through. It is normal, but you should make sure it stays clean and try and keep him away from certain foods, such as popcorn, sunflower seeds, etc. Small seeds and hulled things can get stuck beneath this tissue and cause an infection. Brush well over this tissue and rinse with hydrogen peroxide before bed. Swish, spit, do not rinse/eat/drink, go to bed. If he does not like the hydrogen peroxide you can mix it 1/2 and 1/2 with another mouthrinse or just use a regular mouthwash. Hydrogen peroxide works the best b/c it bubbles well and will bubble into those small areas under the gums.





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