Had all 4 wisdom teeth removed 2 weeks ago, the pain in my mouth is gone, but now I have a terrible earache?

Question

I went to the oral surgeon last week for a post-op appointment and everything was progressing normally, no dry socket, no infection (took antibiotics as a preventive measure), just a little food irritation. The doc gave me a syringe to rinse trapped food out of the holes in my gums with salt water, but that really hurts when I do it, particularly on the lower left side, and then my left ear starts aching worse after I rinse. I've tried heat on my ear, but that also makes the earache worse. Is this normal? Why am I getting this terrible earache?

Answer 1

GIVE YOUR DR. A CALL AND ASK ABOUT THIS. YOU NEED TO KEEP RINSING, IT'S IMPORTANT.

Answer 2

I believe that you are just experiencing post-surgery pain, you are playing an instrument that causes you to blow out and that puts pressure on the sockets. Dry sockets flair up within a 7 day period, you will get better and then all of a sudden get worse, even worse than the pain that you felt right after your surgery, generally someone with a dry socket would experience so much pain that there is no way that you could blow on a French Horn or Trumpet. The holes on the bottom will be there for a while, but they will eventually close. I would say lay off your music for a couple days if possible and see how you feel and if no better then contact the Oral Surgeon that extracted your wisdom teeth. Good luck and feel better, it would probably help to take some Ibuprofen to reduce any swelling which in turn may relieve your pain, if you can take it, if you are like 16 or so the usual dose would be 800 mg every 6-8 hours, this may upset your tummy a little if you take it for a couple days but may really help. Oh, and swish lightly with some slightly warm salt water, use about 1 teaspoon to about 6 ounces of slightly warm water after you brush. There may be something stuck in one of the holes in the bottom causing you the pain, if the Doctor gave you an irrigation syringe then use that as well to help rinse out those bottom holes. Feel better and good luck!

Answer 3

I'm definitely not an expert, but if it doesn't turn out to be an infection (and yes definitely call your oral surgeon ASAP), it could just be that you're sensitive to the temperature of the water or of having your jaw /head in a different position lately. Make sure you don't have any abnormal discharge in your ear or nose, and then just try taking some aspirin. Hopefully it's nothing serious. Good luck!

Answer 4

Maybe you have an infection. You should go to the doctor for an antibiotic.