Infection after wisdom tooth removal - help

[Idunnowhyibother]

Yesterday morning I had a wisdom tooth removed under sedation and think I have an infection. I have a nasty salty taste periodically in my mouth which doesn't smell great (Sorry if TMI!). Because it's still early days and I'm still swollen and sore, I'm not sure if it's infected or not....it was a very difficult extraction with long roots so my mouth is quite trashed on the inside. I've been taking paracetamol for the throbbing but don't have a fever or nausea. I'm quite a travel from the dentist and already have a weeks worth of antibiotics he prescribed for me previously which I didnt end up needing prior to extraction. Any advice on whether I should just crack them open and hope for the best? I doubt I'll get an appointment before the weekend...

Phone the dental practice up if you think you have an infection.

Oh and next time you are prescribed a course of antibiotics take the full course and don't save them. They are prescribed for a reason.

You could have a dry socket or it could still be the blood & swelling from the extraction, are you rinsing with warm salty water?

The dentist prescribed them to me 6 weeks prior to removal should I need them - I had bad tooth ache he said may turn into an infection (It didnt) so I didn't take them.

Might take a while to settle down. Rather than been infected it could just be the anaesthetic wearing off which makes things feel worse. I was told to drink warm salty water 3 times a day to keep it clean.

I hope it's this - am rinsing with salty water today- I mostly just slept yesterday and rehydrated. I don't feel ill just bloody exhausted from the sedation!

Sleepless night - angry throbbing and a mouth full of pus. So worried.

Ring the dentist but start on the antibiotics anyway. Clove oil is really good.

It's probably too soon to know if it's infected. Dry socket is caused by the loss of the blood clot, which usually doesn't happen for a day or two.

I have had dry socket twice this year so I am an expert!

I don't know what normal healing is like because I got an infection both times but in my case the pain never went away (apparently it's meant to be painful for 48 hours and then be better).

I went back to the dentist after a few days and had the socket packed out with this clove stuff. It doesn't cure it but just covers the hole for a bit until it falls out.

Antibiotics also don't cure the dry socket, which has to heal on its own, but at least stop the infection spreading.

If you do have dry socket, it's just a matter of waiting it out. Mine took about 10 days in each case to go and in both cases went overnight from being very painful to absolutely fine.

PS - I also felt very emotional after my extractions. Difficult extractions are surgery - they take their toll on your body and I think it kind of goes into fight mode with lots of adrenaline.

Just be kind to yourself and take it easy.

Is your dental surgery open on the weekend? If so I would call them and see if you can discuss with a dentist whether or not to start the antibiotics.

The dentist is calling me shortly - I started the antibiotics last night but it's still full of pus and pain and I'm starting to get the shakes. Thank God that was the last wisdom tooth to come out! Feel so scared and sick.

How are you?

Saw dentist - he packed the socket with clove paste which didn't hurt at all (It has since come out) and told me to keep on with antibiotics. Pus has stopped leaking for now which is a relief and pain is more manageable. I'm going to try and get some clove oil tomorrow and try that!

You might need it packing a few more times. I love the clove and the packing. I've had 3 dry sockets. Sounds like you're on the road to recovery.