You should take regular pain/fever medication for the first 1 to 2 days, whether or not you are feeling pain. It is normal to need painkillers for up to a week or so. Note: The number of ibuprofen-containing tablets you take should not exceed 12 in 24 hours (2400mg/24 hours).
Most people ask how long post-extraction dental pain lasts. Generally, the level and duration of the pain vary from individual to individual. Some may experience discomfort for a day and others for up to three days. Particularly sensitive patients may have the soreness for about a week.
In most cases, the pain or discomfort should have subsided after 7 to 10 days.
Additionally, do not touch the now-healing surgical area. Take 800 mg of generic Ibuprofen or Advil at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for the next 7 to 10 days. For over the counter Ibuprofen, this is purchased as 200 mg pills, so you will need 4 pills each dose.
Tooth or gum pain is largely due to inflammation or swelling. Reduce the swelling and you'll reduce the pain. The best way to reduce this inflammation in the short-term is with the 3-3-3 method: 3 ibuprofen (600 mg total) 3 times a day for 3 days.
“We typically see dry socket after the removal of lower impacted third molars, or wisdom teeth,” Ellis said. “The pain can last anywhere from a few days to a week.”
It is normal for pain to get worse over the next couple of days. Most discomfort is seen on day 2 and 3. Once you get home and the bleeding has stopped, you should eat (soft foods, pudding, etc.). After eating, start taking the Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen.
Most people feel mostly pain-free by the third or fourth day. Some swelling and soreness can continue throughout the first week. Throbbing pain during the first 24 hours after your extraction is likely just a sign that your body is healing.
Dry socket
It's where a blood clot fails to develop in the tooth socket, or if the blood clot becomes dislodged or disappears. This can happen 3 to 5 days after surgery. The empty socket causes an ache or throbbing pain in your gum or jaw, which can be intense like a toothache.
It's common to have some pain after your dental surgery. This is usually worse in the first 2 to 3 days and then starts to get better. Pain is different for each person.
By day 3, your gum swelling should subside and your open wound from extraction will begin to close. In 7 days, your gums should be very close to being completely healed with minimal sensitivity or pain. These are all signs that your gums are healing nicely and in the expected time frame.
Blood Clots Protect the Wound
This clotting can occur for the next 24 hours to stop the bleeding and protect your nerves and bone from infection and irritation. Ideally, the clot stays in place and shrinks over the next 7-10 days as the natural healing process closes the wound with new tissue.
In contrast, with a dry socket, the pain will improve and then suddenly get worse, which could be more painful than the extraction procedure. The pain of a dry socket may throb and radiate across a large area of the jaw or up towards the ear.
Symptoms of dry socket:
Intense throbbing pain in the tooth socket that radiates to the bone or the face. Pain upon cold temperature. Bad breath. foul taste in the mouth.
The pain worsens once the anaesthetic wears off. Throbbing pain during the first 24 hours post-extraction is a sign that your body is healing. Headaches, pain around the temples, neck or jaw and a sore throat may result from swelling and should subside within 1-3 days.
The Body's Response to a Tooth Extraction
A throbbing pain is not unusual during the first 24 hours, followed by some stiffness, swelling and soreness for around a week. Severe or excruciating pain should not occur following a tooth extraction.
Once a tooth is extracted, you may need stitches and will experience a dull ache for a few days. You will also need to avoid certain foods which may irritate the extraction site. With a filling, there should be no discomfort and you will be able to eat your regular diet as soon as the numbing agent wears off.
While every patient heals at a slightly different pace, most people can begin drinking small amounts of coffee around 5 days after an extraction. If all goes well, within two weeks any swelling should subside and your mouth should be mostly healed. At that point, you can return to drinking your normal amount of coffee.
Additionally, dairy products are harder for your body to digest as they contain casein protein, which slows down digestion significantly and increases inflammation throughout the body. This can delay the healing process and cause more discomfort.
The use of anesthesia during extraction can make you feel sleepy and tired after a few hours. Post-surgery, most individuals feel temporary tenderness, soreness, and numbness.
Sensitivity or pain at the extraction site is standard for 24 to 72 hours. However, you will notice an improvement after three days. Unfortunately, if the pain worsens, you can call the dentist for advice.
Will You Be Able to Resume Work Immediately? Resuming your daily activities without downtime after a tooth extraction is a big stretch. Usually, dental experts recommend resting for 48 – 72 hours before resuming daily activities. This period is necessary for rest, allowing your body to focus on healing.
Pain After Tooth Extraction
If you can take ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®), take 400–600 mg every 6–8 hours or as prescribed by your doctor. Ibuprofen will help with pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory. If you cannot take ibuprofen, then 1–2 tablets of regular Tylenol® should be taken every 4 hours.
Dislodge the food by gently rinsing your mouth with warm salt water (saline) solution. Avoid swishing the water around and don't spit—this can lead to painful dry sockets. If you received a syringe from your clinician, you can use warm water or salt water to gently flush the socket clean.
After a tooth extraction, you should develop a blood clot in the socket (hole) that's left behind. It'll look like a dark-colored scab. But if you have a dry socket, the clot will be absent and you'll be able to see bone. For this reason, dry sockets usually appear white.