Extreme Pain After Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Question

I had my wisdom teeth out almost a week ago and it went fine - I experienced no pain the day of the surgery and most of the day after, but then the pain hit me hard and hasn't stopped since. It is incredibly debilitating and I can't concentrate on anything else when it's at its worst (which is after I've eaten something - even soft things that require almost no chewing). My prescriptions for Vicodin and ibuprofen are up and besides, I'm sick of taking that stuff. Anyone have ideas about natural remedies? You'd be saving my life!

Answer 1

I would go back to your dentist you may have what is know as a dry socket. He/She may help you out with this problem.

In dentistry, a dry socket is a layman's term for alveolar osteitis, a disruption to the healing of the alveolar bone following extraction of the tooth.

Alveolar osteitis occurs when the blood clot at the site of a tooth extraction is disrupted prematurely. This leaves the alveolar bone unprotected and exposed to the oral environment. The socket can pack with food and bacteria. The pain typically commences 2-4 days following the extraction. This is often extremely unpleasant for the patient, as symptoms include extreme pain (sometimes worse than the toothache that indicated the extraction), a foul taste, bad breath, and swelling in the infected area. There may be lymph-node involvement.

Answer 2

Take it from a woman who's been to the dentist more times than Liz Taylors been to divorce court. It always hurts. And what's great, is that you'll have this gaping hole in your gums for a month or more, which makes eating fun.

It's going to ache for a few weeks, and it'll be worse at night when you try to lay down.

Ice packs will help with the throbbing, ibuprofen helps, but not entirely. Stay as upright as possible when sleeping, sleep in a chair if you have to. Before you eat, swish salt water around in your mouth, it'll help tighten the gums and make them less sensitive. Also, be sure to rinse with the salt water immediately after you get done eating. You don't want to use mouthwash yet, it'll sting and ultimately cause more pain. The salt water cleans the gums, and as I said, toughens up the gums. The more you rinse with the salt water, the sooner the gums will tighten and begin to close.
Another thing that may help, this may sound crazy to you, but try mind over matter. Don't think about it, and I know, trust me, I know that's damn near impossible when it hurts, but try to do a word puzzle or something that will occupy your mind, without really TRYING to occupy your mind. You see the more you think about trying NOT to think about something, the more you think about it. So trick your brain, and do a puzzle, or read a book, anything that distracts you from the pain inadvertently.

Well, that's about the best advice I can offer. I know it hurts like hell, I wish you luck.

Answer 3

Hello. I had my teeth taken out a week ago as well. Same thing as you.. The pain came (and still is..) a few days after surgery. I'm sitting here contimplating and looking up online what to do. I think though, you should contact your dentist or doctor tomorrow and you may possibly have a dry socket. Trust me, I know they pain you're going through. Good luck, happy holidays!

Answer 4

I'm a dentist.

The kind of pain you're describing sounds like dry-socket. It will subside on its own, but if you want you can go back to the doctor and he will pack the lower extraction sites with a medicated packing that usually alleviates the pain quickly.

Answer 5

You may need more Vicodin, I'm sorry. If you're feeling this kind of pain a week later, odds are that you have dry socket...the bone is exposed to air. Talk to your dentist TOMORROW. They need to help you with the pain and give you some tips on avoiding infection.

Answer 6

Sounds like you have a condition known as "dry socket". It is when the blood clot is lost that protects the extraction site, allowing bacteria to cause infection. Your best bet is to see your dentist ASAP!, he will be able to prescribe antibiotics to heal the infection. I do hope you do so soon, to save yourself further pain, and suffering. I, for one, know your pain, and hate that you are going through such agony. Pain ain't my thing, just as it isn't yours. I do hope you get to feeling better SOON! Hugs!

Answer 7

That is extreme pain.

Sometimes you have to buckle down and simply ask your Doctor to give you more pain medication and TAKE IT. You will not eat due to the pain,..so take the analgesics and rest and pray you don't get a dry socket.

Answer 8

Well I would like to know if they were surgically cut out or if they were just pulled. But I think by sticking with the perscriptions you should be ok. If the Hydrocodone (vicodin) is making you sick, just take the ibuprofen, about 800mg every 4 hours.

Answer 9

im going through the same thing as we speak!! the vicodin does nothing for me! try gumming down some ice cream..that helped for a bit. and i know its kinda of pointless now because the swelling has already set in, but try icing for about 20 minutes.

im sorry thats all i have! good luck to both of us :) lol

Answer 10

I wish I had the money to get my teeth out. I've had to take animal grade tetracycline now for 2 months so I can work. it will get well on its own. Take tyenols.