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Original poster

How bad is a tooth extraction?!

45 replies

Xuli · 12/11/2018 16:06

I'm starting to panic about mine tomorrow - it's not the extraction itself, but the stories online of pain for the next few days! How bad is it really going to be with no hot drinks and only soft food and a big swollen jaw?!

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 12/11/2018 16:16

Depends on the tooth.

I had a back one growing out of alingment (so it was essentially in the roof of my mouth) and it was less painful than a filling. I went to work after and didn't need any pain relief.

E20mom · 12/11/2018 16:21

I had one and honestly it's not too bad. If you do end up in pain I'd get codeine based pain relief over the counter which is amazing for dental pain.

Littlemissdemeanour · 12/11/2018 16:25

I had a wisdom tooth out and it was over before I knew. Hand on heart, felt nothing!

Please don't worry. Mind over matter!

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Littlemissdemeanour · 12/11/2018 16:26

Should have said I didn't bother with after care either(gauze, paracetamol - sorry if irresponsible, but really wasn't sore)

Growyourowndaisies · 12/11/2018 16:28

I had a wisdom tooth taken out a few days ago. It felt a bit weird once the local anaesthetic wore off but it was not really painful. I did not need pain relief.

I was able to eat normally within a day or so.

It is not nearly as bad as you are imagining. I hope it all goes well for you.

RatherBeRiding · 12/11/2018 16:29

I had a big back one out the other year - not particularly painful afterwards at all. Felt slightly sick for about a day because of the constant slight taste of blood, but was eating/drinking normally the day after that albeit on the other side of my mouth. Can't say it was particularly swollen either.

I think I had a couple of paracetamol straight afterwards but honestly the thought of having it out was way, way worse than the actual procedure!

Believe me, the constant toothache from recurring infections in the damn thing was just hell. Actually couldn't wait to be rid of it.

Myusername101z · 12/11/2018 16:29

Had a few out not bad at all

nevermorelenore · 12/11/2018 16:31

Not that bad. Once the anaesthetic wears off and the pain hits an over the counter pain killer is enough to tackle it. It’s a very quick procedure.

Headingtowardsforty · 12/11/2018 16:33

Having had one taken out today and the anaesthetic having finally worn off I can honestly say I'm not in any pain. It feels a bit weird and my jaw was sore immediately afterwards, but that is all. Hope it goes smoothly for you.

kenandbarbie · 12/11/2018 16:33

Not that bad I didn't think!

IdClimbHimLikeATree · 12/11/2018 16:36

I've had one out at the back. I didn't have any ongoing pain afterwards, it was fine. It was definitely a car of better out than in as well as it was so painful before it was extracted.

You'll be fine Thanks

fourquenelles · 12/11/2018 16:37

Dentistry has moved on in leaps and bounds from when I was a lass. I had a horrible experience in my early 20's with an extraction so was very worried when I needed a tooth out last year. The dentist this time was brilliant - flick of the wrist and the tooth was out.

You need to make sure that you keep the padding in for as long as the dentist advises to prevent dry socket. I took a couple of pain killers and felt no pain within a few hours.

ShatnersBassoon · 12/11/2018 16:41

Not bad. I had a wisdom tooth out under local anaesthetic, and paracetamol was enough to make me comfortable.

purplecorkheart · 12/11/2018 16:42

I had to get a broken extracted. Honestly had no issue afterwards. I was prescribed painkillers and antibotics. I never took the painkillers but took paracetamol that night.

Tokenorange · 12/11/2018 16:45

I've had four out & they manage the pain part ok. It's the weird crunching noise you can hear/feel as they do it that you need to worry about Grin Sorry, not very helpful.

WhereHaveTheyGone12 · 12/11/2018 16:46

I have had 4 teeth removed - braces - and honestly it was fine.

Disclaimer: the next part is not meant to scare Blush

I did end up with a black eye afterwards but attributed it to my stubborn tooth and fair fair skin. I didn’t feel a thing so was very surprised with the old shiner!

Plus I bruise from a dirty look so had no chance with someone pulling at my tooth!

Fluffycloudland77 · 12/11/2018 16:50

I've had loads out so I could have a brace, it's not that bad. I had it done at 17 so they were all adult teeth too.

Cant remember taking any pain killers at all.

Original poster
Xuli · 12/11/2018 16:50

A black eye!

Why does everything you read online seem designed to terrify you? If you even think about eating solid food or having a hot drink or a cigarette within a week you Will get dry socket and it will be awful...

Thanks for some reassurance though!

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 12/11/2018 16:54

I had a wisdom tooth out and it was fine. I took painkillers shortly beforehand and for the rest of the day only. Hardly any swelling. Don't worry about it.

UpstartCrow · 12/11/2018 16:54

Take ibuprofen and paracetamol for the week after. I took Vit C after my last extraction was slow to heal, and it defiantly helped.

OvO · 12/11/2018 16:59

I remember going to Asda shorty after having my tooth out and was in there when the numbness wore off. It was properly painful, couldn’t think of anything but the pain kind of thing. BUT 20 minutes later I was full of paracetamol and felt totally fine.

If it does hurt it’s very receptive to standard painkillers and if you take them on a regular schedule for the first few days there’s no need to feel any pain at all!

Nat6999 · 12/11/2018 17:08

I've had several extractions & once the injections are done the worst is over, it's never taken longer than a minute to do the actual pulling. Just plan to spend the rest of the day relaxing, don't go dashing around, stock up on paracetamol or co-codamol & Ibuprofen, make sure you have some salt to do the warm rinsed from the day after to aid healing. You will be fine the day after, a tiny bit tender but nowhere near as bad as toothache.

WhoisyourDaddyandwhatdoeshedo · 12/11/2018 17:14

Mine was one huge relief!

mine was complex too as it was a very rotten down tooth, basically pulp and roots! you'll be fine and its over pretty quickly

Dancer12345 · 12/11/2018 17:15

I have to have one out soon too. I feel for you as I’m dreading mine! He’s doing a surgical extraction as it’s damaged - anyone had this?

Ollivander84 · 12/11/2018 17:15

Fine. I went to work after (not advisable) as it was bloody sore when the local wore off
I got dry socket and that didn't hurt, just tasted weird