Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

If you’ve ever had a tooth out how painful was it afterwards?

72 replies

Matchsticklady · 24/12/2020 17:05

Have had truly awful tooth pain for a few days nothing would help. Dentist took the offending tooth out (lower molar) was a tricky removal but all came out ok.
It’s numb at the moment and I’m wondering what to expect when i get the feeling back. Wondering if it’s going to be as bad as it was or more of a bearable pain that painkillers will help with

OP posts:
cherrypiepie · 24/12/2020 17:09

What an awful time to have it done Thanks

It was fine and I was really dreading it but about 2 days recovery then a week to heal fully . Just rinse with saltwater.

Wishing you well

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 24/12/2020 17:10

I recently had a wisdom tooth out and several root canals and they always gave me painkillers to take at home, but I never needed them.
What I needed were cooling pads.
It depends on your threshold for pain, but a normal dose of ibu should do it

Gooseygoosey12345 · 24/12/2020 17:10

It shouldn't be painful at all really. Maybe a little tender but it'll be better than leaving it in if it's causing you pain for sure!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dental health General health
Original poster
Matchsticklady · 24/12/2020 17:11

Yea I’m so relieved I got an appointment as it’s been agonising and I’m just hoping it’s not as bad as it has been

OP posts:
PaquitaVariation · 24/12/2020 17:12

Don’t rinse it with anything for a couple of days. You’ll dislodge the clot and end up with a ‘dry socket’ the pain from which is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. Other than that it should be fine!

user1471538283 · 24/12/2020 17:14

It will hurt. I took ibuprofen and paracetamol at 2 hourly intervals and kept my mouth as clean as I could. Do not bend down because this could release the clot and cause an infection. Try and sleep. I hope you feel better soon

Harpydragon · 24/12/2020 17:14

I just took painkillers the same day and it was tender but not painful. Rinse very gently with salt water, you do NOT want to dislodge the plug that forms in the hole. Try and eat on the other side of your mouth and you should be fine.
If it does start being very painful go back to the dentist, it honestly should not hurt at all,

housemdwaswrong · 24/12/2020 17:15

Should be fine. I had a cracked wisdom tooth out in the dentist and I don't remember any pain afterwards. I was so relieved to get the damn thing out all I remember is relief.

Awrite · 24/12/2020 17:15

Well, I cried. I wished I had stronger painkillers. I had anti-bios to prevent infection.

Maybe I was just unlucky. It took an hour to remove the tooth.

The horrific pain only lasted that first night. Actually, I think I really was unlucky because my face was swollen for a couple of days.

Polkadot52 · 24/12/2020 17:15

This was me at the exact same time last year. Honestly it took a good 2 weeks. Apparently most people recover quicker but for it was was swollen and sore the whole way through Christmas. Hope it's better for you! Gargle with salt water and do hot and cold presses if you have a swollen cheek like I did.

Tumbleweed101 · 24/12/2020 17:20

Didn't hurt after, just a bit sore and felt odd. They recommend not laying flat for first couple nights and don't wash the socket, leave it alone. Clean other teeth as normal carefully but really gentle rinsing. You are trying to maintain the clot that forms as this covers the bone and nerves and eventually forms the new gum tissue.

Hope all goes well. Much better than having a painful tooth.

Original poster
Matchsticklady · 24/12/2020 17:20

I can’t really avoid bending down as I have to pick DS up! He didn’t warn me about that just said not to rinse tonight and then only salt water gently (I’m really scared of doing this now incase it dislodges on Christmas Day) from tomorrow
It’s started wearing off and is really achey already :(

OP posts:
Jamjar77 · 24/12/2020 17:22

I had one out two weeks ago and it’s been fine - rinse with salt water and you’ll be fine

OverTheRainbow88 · 24/12/2020 17:23

Mine was very painful for a week and then painful for about 2 more after that.

Original poster
Matchsticklady · 24/12/2020 17:26

I was so hoping it would just be a bit of an ache
Everyone saying rinse with saltwater was this after the first day

OP posts:
OverTheRainbow88 · 24/12/2020 17:29

Wait 24 hours before gargling salty water, my dentist gave me a course of antibiotics as well.

Chottie · 24/12/2020 17:31

I had a large double back tooth removed at the dentist. Hand on heart, I have a very low pain threshold, but truthfully, it was ok. Plenty of anaesthetic beforehand and pain killers afterwards and it was fine. I was surprised how quickly the socket healed.

Frankiefrank · 24/12/2020 17:32

I was told to not gargle with salt water but to just hold it in my mouth for a short while and then spit out. Did this for about a week. I had pain, not bad pain more an ache, for about a week.

Chottie · 24/12/2020 17:33

@Matchsticklady

I was so hoping it would just be a bit of an ache Everyone saying rinse with saltwater was this after the first day
Yes, my dentist said it was very important not to disturb the first blood clot which develops after extraction as it was part of the healing process.

Maybe a dentist / dental nurse can explain the reasoning?

Original poster
Matchsticklady · 24/12/2020 17:33

Wel it’s already quite painful :( feels like a kind of drilling down pain. The dentist did say my nerve was inflamed and I’m on antibiotics so maybe tonight will be bad then start to ease off

OP posts:
Original poster
Matchsticklady · 24/12/2020 17:34

The weird thing is it’s another tooth that’s hurting as well as the site of the extraction so I’m thinking referred nerve pain

OP posts:
KungFuFriday · 24/12/2020 17:35

Poor you! Wait until tomorrow before starting to rinse with hot salted water. Definitely take painkillers- ibuprofen and paracetamol at regular intervals up to the maximum recommended dose. You can alternate them so when one is starting to wear off, the other is taking effect.
Taking care when rinsing tomorrow and when brushing etc is all good advice. You shouldn't need antibiotics so don't worry about not being prescribed any.
I would expect some discomfort but it should be manageable with regular painkillers and it will gradually improve over the next few days. It should certainly be better than the pain you had beforehand!

Allamericanreject · 24/12/2020 17:39

Depends on how painful it was before IMO. I got mine out and it was grand. Tiny bit throbbing and sore but compared to the toothache it was nothing and very manageable.

Paperyfish · 24/12/2020 17:41

I had an infected wisdom out and the relief was intense. I tried to go back to work that afternoon- but they sent me home as I was slurring! A few days of paracetamols and I was ok. L x

Powerfulpam · 24/12/2020 17:42

I normally say to patients they should expect pain bad enough to need painkillers regularly for at least a week and then another week beyond that it will be sore but perhaps not needing painkillers every 4 hours.
Of course some extractions are more difficult and will be painful for longer and some will pop out really easily and be much less painful.