Your other teeth may ache temporarily. This is referred pain and is a temporary condition. If the corners of the mouth are stretched out they may dry and crack. There will be a space where the tooth was removed.
After tooth extraction, pain due to dry socket and pain in the adjacent tooth are common.
As mentioned, your teeth will shift slightly throughout your life. However, if you have had a tooth or teeth extraction, the surrounding teeth may shift to fill the space. There is no time length when this will occur, as it could happen over a matter of months or years.
The socket becomes inflamed and may fill with food debris, adding to the pain. If you develop dry socket, the pain usually begins one to three days after your tooth is removed. Dry socket is the most common complication following tooth extractions, such as the removal of third molars (wisdom teeth).
Comparison to a normal socket
The pain of a dry socket may throb and radiate across a large area of the jaw or up towards the ear.
This is probably due to estrogen, as the hormone may dissolve blood clots. Additionally, dry socket happens more often on the lower jaw than the upper jaw.
Having pain after your surgery is expected and common. Pain may last up to two weeks after surgery. It is highly recommended to take two Advil or Motrin immediately when you get home. Keep the narcotic pain medications for bedtime.
In most cases, you will experience some pain, uneasiness and irritation for a maximum of seven days and a minimum of three days. Any severe pain should subside anywhere from 24 hours until 72 hours following the tooth removal procedure.
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.
After having a tooth extracted - especially molars - you may feel some pain and discomfort for around 3-7 days after it has been removed. However, if you still have intense pain near the area immediately after 5 days, book an appointment to see your dentist.
Keep the extraction site clean.
Gently rinse the area with an antimicrobial mouthwash two to three times a day. Avoid brushing directly over your extraction site until your dentist tells you it's safe to do so. Brush and floss all other areas normally.
Apply ice continuously while you are awake. For mild discomfort, use aspirin, Tylenol®, or any similar medication: 2 tablets every 3–4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil®/Motrin®) 200mg can also be taken: 2–3 tablets every 3–4 hours. For severe pain, use the prescription given to you.
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.
Another common symptom of a dry socket is a bad or sour taste in your mouth. This can be one of the first signs of infection, so don't let that smell linger without taking swift action. Swish warm salt water or a dentist-recommended rinse in your mouth gently before getting on the books at your local dental office.
Signs of infection after extraction
Instead of the pain getting better from the extraction, it gets worse. The bleeding continues for more than 24 hours. Experiencing an unpleasant or foul smell coming from the mouth. Seeing discharge in or around the area.
Many people are not aware that what they eat can affect healing after an extraction. It is recommended to eat food that does not pose a risk of leaving remnants behind. This includes nuts, popcorn, rice, and pasta. These types of foods can dislodge blood clots from extraction sites and cause dry socket.
With that being said, a tell-tale sign of dry socket is if the pain gets increasingly worse after surgery or you experience a throbbing pain in your jaw. This pain can spread to other areas of your face, neck, and head and it usually occurs on the same side as the extracted tooth.
Not everyone develops dry socket after a tooth extraction. Dentists are not sure about what causes it, but some experts say that certain factors may increase the risk. These include: smoking.
About a month after your tooth extraction, new gum tissue will have become formed at the extraction site. There may be a slight indent where the tooth used to be. The jawbone will begin to heal approximately one week after the extraction and it will increasingly harden as time goes by.
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. The pain should respond well to any over-the-counter or prescription medications you take. It may also decrease with basic self-care.
It is also normal for some patients to experience a slightly elevated temperature and numbness of the lips, chin and tongue immediately following the procedure. These are not reasons for alarm. However, you should contact our office if any of these symptoms persist the day after your surgery.
Following any type of oral surgery, including a tooth extraction, you should sleep elevated for the first 2-3 nights. This allows your body to drain more of the fluid away from the extraction site. If you were to lie flat on your back, the amount of swelling is much more likely to increase.
How many teeth can I have extracted at once? There is no limit to the number of teeth you can have extracted at once. While having multiple teeth extracted during the same procedure is rare, it is sometimes the only option for patients with severe tooth decay.