All 4 impacted wisdom teeth pulled... Pain not subsiding.?

Question

I had all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth pulled about....4 or 5 days ago. Of course everytime I take the perscribed pain meds I conk out for about 3 hours. I have plenty more of the medications, but the right side of my mouth is killing me, even WITH the pain medications.

I'm worried that I might have dry socket. Also- why shouldn't you drink liquids with a straw? How does that affect the healing process?

With the swelling- I almost have my mouth open all the time because the insides of my cheeks are swollen.

The ortho-surgeon told my mom it'd be okay to suck through a straw as long as it wasn't anything thick (e.g: A milkshake) as opposed to water. How can they tell if it's infected this soon?

Answer 1

Hello!

As an oral surgeons daughter I have to say I have plenty of experience in this subject!!

I would, as the other person said, see your oral surgeon at your earliest convenience. You should have made a follow up appointment so he/she can see how the stitches are holding up etc. After the surgery did you try keeping ice on it 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off? You also dont have to use the prescribed pain meds if you dont want to conk out-- you can use advil or tylenol.

Did your Dr. prescribe you an oral rinse, such as peridex? (Its clorahexidine rinse). It is important to rinse out with warm salt water (not too hard) to clean the wound.

Lastly, if you are worried you have a dry socket I would see the Doc as well. Basically when you get your teeth out there is a hole where the tooth used to be and, as part of the healing process, a blood clot forms. A dry socket is when the blood clot falls out of the hole and it can be painful (I had one).

The reason you dont want to drink through a straw or smoke cigarettes after wisdom tooth extraction is because the vacuum you create with the suction can contribute to pulling the blood clot out and thus creating a dry socket. I wouldnt drink with a straw if you can avoid it.

Lastly, are you on birth control? Women who are taking birth control are more likely to develop a dry socket.

In the event that you do have a dry socket what your doctor will most likely do is put some fibers down into the hole so that an infection doesnt happen and he will have you flush out the whole with a syringe of water. you dont want food to get caught in the hole.

I hope you feel better and that this helps. Best of luck.

Answer 2

As drinking liquids with a straw involves sucking, this suction can actually draw out blood or loosen your stitches. So it's definitely good to avoid the straw for a bit longer, and sip those drinks. :)

I had all four fully impacted wisdom teeth surgically removed when I was 18, and I was still feeling pain after a week. However, if your pain is extreme and the swelling isn't going down at all, I'd definitely stop back into your dentist's office for a visit.

Hope you feel better soon!

Answer 3

If you had your wisdom teeth pulled out 5 days ago and you're still experiencing bad pains you might want to go back to the dentist and make sure you don't have an infection. I've had mine pulled, two of them were very deep, the pain and swelling were pretty much gone by day 3 or 4. They say you shouldn't drink from a straw, because when you suck you pull on the muscles in the back of your mouth this can cause the healing process to take longer or even cause damage.

Answer 4

You probably do have a dry socket. Pain killers and an ice pack are really the only things to help the pain and of course when you're asleep thats not a real issue. It's better not to drink out a straw because of the difference in action or movement that the fluids take when ingested. When you don't use a straw the liquid is more likely to flow over the socket and sort of cleanse it, if you will. The straw will prevent that somewhat, and if you don't use the wash you were given you just have an open wound in practically stagnant environment full of bacteria. Anyway you just want to keep it clean and free from debris.

Answer 5

Hi I'm a dental assistant! If the pain is the same or getting worse, you probably do have dry socket and you should go back to the dentist, the pain medication will not heal it up, they will have to put some gel foam and medication inside the socket for it to heal.
The reason you shouldn't use a straw is b/c of the sucking action.
You need a blood clot to form in the socket for it to heal, the sucking action from the straw can pull the blood clot out, causing dry socket! You should also not spit, or smoke or any other kind of sucking action.
Hope that helps
Keep flossin'

Answer 6

You don't want to suck with a straw because it will remove the blood clots from the gums and they will start to bleed again. The pain usually last a week sometimes a little longer. Remember they were impacted so they had to dig them out. If you start with fever or redness in the jaw area see you dentist right away it could be an infection or if for some reason you can not open your mouth at all.

Answer 7

It does sound like you have a dry socket. Call the doctor that did the extractions and explain the problem. They will probably get you back in and pack the extraction site. This will help you feel better.
You shouldn't drink through a straw for 24 to 48 hours after b/c the vacuum caused in your mouth when you drink through a straw can cause the blood clot that had begun for healing to be pulled out leaving an open socket and causing a dry socket.

My best advise is call the doctor and get an appointment.

Answer 8

It depends on the person. Usually 17yrs onwards. In some persons it not at all erupts in their lifetime. Pain is normal while the eruption of wisdom tooth. U chew sugarless chewing gum with that side so that the tissue covering the tooth will be soft and pull backwards. Make ur mouth clean always. rinse warm saline water morning ang evening after brushing. U have pain take any painkiller.Confirm u ve no drug allergy. Uncomfortable pain visit ur dentist and he will remove that overlying tissue on ur tooth(oppurculectomy)(only if it is not coming off by itself).very minor procedure doing under local anesthesia.

Answer 9

Prescription pain meds should take care of any pain you have from the procedure. If they're not working, you need to go back to the doctor immediately; it's very likely a dry socket or infection and you need treatment so it doesn't get worse.

Answer 10

If you are still having pain 5 days after you had them pulled then something is not right and you need to see the surgen that pulled your teeht like yesterday chop chop don't waste any time