Typically, swelling will start on the second day. The swelling will be the worst on days 2 and 3 and should start to gradually get better. You should keep an ice pack on the side of the face as much as you can for the next 24 hours.
The swelling will build over the first 48 to 72 hours and then plateau for 2-3 days making the 3rd-5th days the worst for pain and swelling. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs.
3 Days Post Extraction
After about 3 days, the empty tooth socket will have mostly healed. There should be no more bleeding present, and swelling should be minimal at this point. You may still experience some tenderness or soreness, but you should no longer feel pain or discomfort.
In most cases, the pain or discomfort should have subsided after 7 to 10 days. Even though people's pain threshold and healing are different, the pain and the discomfort should decrease each day. There should be little to no pain by the time you get to five days.
What is considered “normal” pain is likely to last for about three days post-extraction. If you are more of the sensitive type, expect a lingering tenderness on the extraction site for longer. However, other reasons could cause pain after tooth extraction.
Dry sockets become increasingly painful in the days after a tooth extraction. They may also have exposed bone or tissue, or an unpleasant smell. By comparison, normal healing sockets get less painful over time and do not cause any other symptoms. A dry socket can be very painful, but it is not usually serious.
Following a tooth extraction, it's normal to feel some mild pain. However, contact your dentist if you experience any of the following symptoms: Continued tooth extraction pain after three days. Pain that spreads to your temple, ear, eye, or neck.
On the fourth through seventh days after your tooth extraction, you should begin to feel back to normal, but you should still take care around the extraction site to avoid aggravating it. Continue to eat soft foods and brush the area very gently.
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.
You can stop worrying about getting a dry socket after the fifth day since most healing has taken place. Most severe cases occur within the first 24 hours following the extraction and will have to be treated by a dental practitioner.
As long as you're carefully following your dentist's post-op instructions, you should be able to carefully sip coffee about five days after your tooth extraction. Your mouth should be fully healed after about two weeks.
Most oral surgeons advise patients to avoid physical exertion for the first 4 days after surgery. Exercise can lead to an increase in blood pressure, which can cause the extraction site to bleed. Worst of all, the blood clot that grows in the extraction area after surgery may be dislodged, leading to dry socket.
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.
What to Expect 3 Days Post Tooth Extraction. The tooth extraction site after three days should be feeling better and healing nicely. Swelling should be minimal, and there should be no more bleeding. The blood clot that formed in the socket should be more secured but can still become dislodged if you are not careful.
Throbbing pain during the first 24 hours after your extraction is likely just a sign that your body is healing. The pain should respond well to any over-the-counter or prescription medications you take. It may also decrease with basic self-care.
Most people find tooth extraction pain passes after three days, however this can vary from patient to patient. If you still feel pain after three to five days, consider booking back in with your dentist for a follow-up appointment.
It is best to stick to soft foods requiring minimal chewing, such as applesauce, yogurt and pudding. Vitamin C and vitamin A help to support the healing process following a tooth extraction. Therefore, it is a good idea to eat foods rich in these nutrients.
When Can I Stop Worrying About Dry Socket? Until the full recovery of your extraction site, a dry socket can form if you fail to follow the care tips. Usually, a week (7-8 days) after wisdom tooth extraction, you can stop worrying about a dry socket as gums take this much time to close fully.
If you're trying to choose between the two options and wondering “which is more painful, a tooth extraction or a filling,” removing a tooth results in a longer period of discomfort compared to a filling procedure.
Dry socket is pain and inflammation in the area where we have removed a tooth (extraction). You might have increasing pain, a foul (unpleasant) taste and bad breath. This usually happens 3 to 5 days after treatment. Dry socket is a common problem, but it is more likely if you smoke or take the contraceptive pill.
If you develop new or worsening pain in the days after your tooth extraction, contact your dentist or oral surgeon immediately.
A dry socket pain doesn't always begin right away. It can take several days before the pain begins. Most of the time, the pain starts small and gradually gets worse over time. Other times the pain can begin without warning and can be excruciating in which case you should seek an emergency dentist immediately.
You often cannot see a dry socket. Discoloration of a healing site is normal. A normal clot will often appear white in the mouth as it matures. The pain may keep you up at night and is often not fully treated by over the counter pain medicines.