Tooth extraction advice please

[Yate12]

I am having a top rear tooth removed tomorrow at my dentists, under local anaesthetic. I'm pleased to be getting rid of the tooth as it's been causing a lot of discomfort and pain, but I am really worrying about aftercare and pain. I can't really take ibuprofen because of my blood pressure medication, so only paracetamol based painkillers.

I am sure my dentist will give me aftercare advice, but has anyone got any tips please for how to get through the next few days?

I'm going on holiday (Spain) next week and need to be as careful as possible not to knock out the blood clot as I don't want to end up with dry socket, especially abroad.

My dentist is aware I'm going away next week, and I've got comprehensive travel insurance and an EHIC card should the worst happen.

Hi. I had a lower wisdom tooth out a good few weeks ago. I only took painkillers once and the rest of he time it was achy and sore but didn't warrant meds.

Make sure you do all the salt water rinsing and be careful what you eat. I found eating hard for a while, over a week. But I think lower teeth are trickier than upper. Good luck hope it goes smoothly

I had a loose wisdom tooth removed from my lower jaw in January. Local anaesthetic. It came out really easily, virtually no bleeding at all.
Apart from following the advice to avoid milk and flour-based foods for 24 hours, there was no impact, no pain etc. and no discernible clot.
Fingers crossed it is the same for you.

I had almost no pain after mine was extracted. I was so glad it was gone because it had hurt for ages.

@FelicityFlops you were told to avoid milk and flour based foods? What on Earth for 🤣 Iv been a dental nurse for 13 years and never ever heard of this.

I work in oral sugary and our aftercare advice is

Don't disturb the clot with tongue, food or toothbrush. Nothing hot whilst you're numb you'll burn yourself. Eat on the other side. No smoking for 72 hours minimum. No rinsing or spitting out as this disturbs the blood clot. Painkillers as and when required. Soft foods for a few days. It's all common sense really. You'll be fine.

Edit - no rinsing or spitting out for 24 hours - after that warm salt water mouth washing for 7 days. Sorry distracted by my baby screaming 🤣

I had to have a lower rear molar extracted last year. I booked three days off work 'to recover' and then felt like a complete fraud because I was absolutely fine by the next morning, even though it had been an absolute swine to get out. I think I took two ibuprofen at the point at which I felt the local anaesthetic wearing off, but I didn't need any further painkillers after that. I was terrified of dry socket so I was really really careful not to dislodge the clot.

DO NOT DISTURB THE CLOT.

Apart from that it s all ok really. Take at least half a day to a day to take it a bit easy asfter the extraction.

The amount of post-procedure discomfort will have to do with how much work was needed to get the tooth out. I had one that had to be cut into sections as the roots curved in towards each other. I had another that popped out like nothing.

I'm curious about what BP medication you're on that contraindicates ibuprofen.

I had an upper molar extracted and the dentist asked could he keep the tooth as the roots in were incredibly long. I took two paracetamol that night more because he warned me to rather than needing them. Never had to take anything after that,

I avoided hot drinks that afternoon as my mouth was numb and ate soft food that day.

I had a bottom second molar removed a year ago after it cracked and a root canal couldn't save it. The procedure itself wasn't painful, just lots of pressure. But as soon as I stepped out of the dentists chair the pain began. It was excruciating for about a month - I would have happily given birth again! Apparently it wasn't infected and I didn't have dry socket so I don't know what the issue was. Just take painkillers as and when (but don't accidentally overdose otherwise you'll end up in A&E like I did!) Salt water rinses also help a lot. Don't drink through a straw otherwise you'll dislodge the clot. Stick to soft foods that don't require much chewing - mash potato and soup are your friends. Brush super softly around the area.

Both extractions I've had I've developed dry socket and needed antibiotics. Went back in to see the dentist and she applied some magical green gungy paste to the socket that really helped!

I had an upper wisdom tooth removed in January under local anaesthetic and it was fine. Follow the advice given by @shakeitoffsis upthread and you'll be good. I didn't need any painkillers afterwards either. (What I wasn't prepared for was the noise of the extraction, but it was painless)

Strictly liquid and soft foods for first 48 hours! I had a bottom wisdom tooth removed about 2 months ago, and was neither up nor down so (stupidly!) ate normally (ie not soft foods) that evening, and within days I had the dreaded dry socket.

I had three wisdom teeth out under GA in hospital a year and a half back, and I did end up dislodging the clot. I didn't get dry socket though.

What happened was the clot which came out was from the tooth that had been infected on and off for a year or so. I think it was always going to get infected. And I think this was what made the clot dislodge. That and too much exertion and drinking fizzy drink... whoops. They encouraged me to clean the area with salt water and the cotton gauze they'd given me to make it bleed a bit more as it only came out the next morning, I ended up having to get antibiotics because of the infection. But didn't get dry socket (thank god) so maybe a new clot formed.
I did take painkillers for about three days in the end and felt wiped but that was the GA I think. If you're having a local you should be grand. Just rest, paracetamol, liquid diet only, do not smoke or use straws (the suction can dislodge the clot) and I'd add in my own caveat about no fizzy drinks for the same reason. Good luck!