Wisdom Teeth Recovery?

Question

I had my wisdom teeth taken out last Friday (the 2nd), and it seems as if the pain from it has gradually increased. I did everything the doctor said to (soft foods, rinse once in the morning and once at night, took antibiotics, gauze, icepacks, etc.). I know it's technically only the 5th day, but I was told I should be able to eat normally in a week (being 7 days), and I feel that this is definetly not going to happen (unless it does overnight...).

Could it be possible that I have dry socket? I heard it was rare. The pain does go away with medications such as Motrin (otc), or the Ibuprofin they gave me, but should it still be hurting this far into the recovery period? I usually have a headache along with the pain, if that helps.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The recovery time varies for different people and it depends on how deep your extracted teeth were. My bottom teeth were impacted and hard to get out, but my top ones were easy. (I had them all out at once).
If memory serves me, I had mine out on a Friday and had my first semi solid meal (mostly mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and i tried some chicken but it hurt) at a staff luncheon the following Wednesday. So, I would give it a few more days- it was probably a good 2 weeks before I was really chomping again and my doc said I was healing just fine.
I think that people who can eat earlier had easier extractions. And from what I hear the pain of dry socket is *severe*, but you probably have a follow up soon so I would ask your surgeon.

Answer 2

You might have medication lodged in your sinus cavity causing pressure and headache. When you palpitate your fingers against your cheeks, does it feel a bit numb on the painful side? I would think if it was dry socket you would have much more pain. When I had the sinus thing happen, I had a super headache for 10 days straight. I had called the dentist the evening of the extraction to complain of what I thought was excessive pain, he said to chill and call him in the morn. Next morn it was horrible, I went and saw him and he was "oh sorry, I put the Novacaine shot too high up and it's in your sinus cavity", I'm "oh, how long is it gonna do this? 10 days.....................10days straight. And when it quit, it just ended, not gradually,just quit. Also, some people it takes more time with wisdom teeth, my son had to be put to sleep cuz his were such a mess and he was on his back for a week, so maybe it's normal. Maybe you should just called the doc and see what's up. Good luck.

Answer 3

I just went through the same thing. Got mine out a week or two ago. They told me I should be eating in three days and when I wasn't and the pain haddn't stopped I called and they said they wanted to see me. So on the fourth day I went and they told me I had dry socket, even though I did everthing I was supposed to. They packed the holes with antibiotic gaues and I came back the next day for them to do it again, and again two days later. After that they felt so much better and I could finally eat. Therefore you may want to get check to make sure thats not wha you have. Trust me go ahead and set it seen cause once they pack it the first time it already feels so much better in just a few hours. Its been about two or three weeks now since mine and I can pretty much eat normally now but I still have slight aching in my jaw and can't open my mouth as wide as usually do.

Answer 4

Dry sockets are not rare. They are quite common actually. One way to tell if that is what it is, is you will have a distinct 'throbbing' in the area. Almost like a heartbeat. Your pain, at this point, should not be increasing unless it is an infection or dry socket. Call your oral surgeon in the morning and ask that they see you again to examine the area. If it is a dry socket, it will need to be packed. Good Luck!

Answer 5

yes, is still is a possibility to have pain from the surgery....weird that it's increasing though.....call the dentist and just tell him how you feel.......he should take a look at it to assure you one way or the other...As far back as those teeth were ..it should have been possible to chew food at least by the next day...flushing the food particles out though of the sockets in back....why can't you eat?..... why a week? The socket clots with a blood clot pretty quickly after surgery...you can't use a straw or smoke for 2 days so you don't pull the clot out with the suction,,,,,,,,,but as long as you chew with your front teeth and flush the food out of the back sockets after eating, you should have been even able to eat a sandwich the next day.or anything as long as it didn't sting...like chips or salty foods....I'd call the dentist . You usually develop the dry sockets within 2 days if you are going to get them...after that there really is a rare possible chance of pulling the clot out of the extraction site and developing a dry socket as it is actually more like a scab after the 2nd day down in the extraction site.........when did your pain increase? if it's a dry socket.you'd very likely not be able to concentrate on typing on your computer...you'd be in excrutiating pain....the dentist can pack the dry socket with a medication to get it to begin healing up again. Just call him.....maybe your teeth were extra hard to pull or deep, and the trauma is causing more healing time...if it still swelled wih the trauma...Ibuprofen reduces the swelling which reduces the pain. Are you on Ibuprofen or any painkillers he gave you?..or you could have a dry socket....Have him look at it...Drinking water helps the body heal ...if you are dehydrated even partially, the body hoards all the water you do have for other areas....not healing things...drink plenty of fluid....it helps you heal more quickly.....I'd try eating normal foods (avoiding chewing with your back teeth.)..and rinse not just 2 times daily..the more often through the day you rinse the cleaner it stays....faster it heals...and it doesn't usually hurt unless it's got food or sugary or salty saliva laying in there....a dirty extraction site that has any saliva even tinged with food can hurt....even after drinking milk, juice, etc. rinse with water at least to get the sugar out of the site. Also salt water gargling all through the day greatly speeds up healing of any issues in the mouth..Good luck !!!!! I've had all kinds of oral surgery...different times and I can help you more if needed. My email address is:
[e-mail] Rene'....hope I helped

Answer 6

Wow..sucks for you. I had my wisdom teeth taken out and had no problems at all. I rinsed after every meal and never had infection.

I would say to eat regular food when you are up to it. If the pain persists, call the doctor.