Tooth extraction

[Tonicandgin]

I've had a rough 2 weeks. Indescribable pain, 2 sets of antibiotics, one failed root canal and tooth extraction.

Dentist said I had an infection in my bone and to finish my antibiotics - which I'm doing.

Firstly, what should I expect to feel after an extraction. It was 2 days ago and I feel sore in tooth site, bruised cheek but also very very emotional.

Is this normal?

Plus - I'm terrified of the infection taking hold again. Especially with Christmas. What should I look for?

That's very normal

There's lots of nerves there so it'll feel jangly for a while. It will even improve then feel sore again so don't panic if that happens

Take your antibiotics, and you can have ibuprofen and paracetamol - take regularly even if it's not hurting

Try to keep your mouth clean - rinse with water when you've eaten

You're really unlikely to get an infection with the antibiotics but you'll easily know if you do - it'll be really really painful, hot, swollen glands, possibly some discharge. But it won't happen - Santa said so

You poor thing, I had to have a molar extracted a few weeks ago. I didn't have any warning to prepare as my tooth broke scoffing chocolate and I was in the dentist chair first thing the next morning. I cried like a baby.

Although the extraction was very simple and pain free, I was really emotional for days over it. The gap really upset me, even though it wasn't noticeable. It has pretty much healed now.

I hope that you are ok soon and that you have a lovely Christmas. 💐

I’m also recovering (or just recovered) from a wisdom tooth extraction. By Day 5 my mouth felt fairly normal but I didn’t have infection in the area of the extraction.

Good luck with your recovery OP. It’s just a rotten thing to experience at this time of year.

I’m having an extraction tomorrow and I expect to feel very emotional afterwards. I’m not sure what causes it, maybe the feeling of intense pain and vulnerability. It’s nice to know we’re not alone.

Forgot to say, I took great care after the extraction having read all about the horrors of dry socket on mumsnet. I only ate mashed up veg for a few days or soup and gently brushed my teeth a few times a day.

I feel for you so close to Christmas. You will be so relieved once it's over though. I didn't feel any pain during the extraction and only a little sore for roughly 24 hours but I didn't need painkillers but it was a very simple extraction which took less than a minute to remove. Wisdom teeth are a different story I guess.

I see a PP has advised you to rinse with water. When you do this just hold the water in your mouth and move your head around a bit. Don’t swish it around as you don’t want to disturb the plug of blood and end up with a dry socket.

I’ve just had an extraction too. Horrible timing so close to Christmas as I’m now worried if I get any problems in the next few days how difficult it might be to get seen.

I don’t know why it’s so emotional as like others it wasn’t massively painful (although a bugger to pull out) and I’m not in much pain now.

terrified of the idea of infection or dry socket so mostly sticking to fluids and have just had a bowl of weetabix.

Definitely this plus do not drink through a straw.

I was also told not to spit when brushing teeth or rinsing with salt water.

Why can't you drink thru a straw?

Pull the plug out?

@Tilllly the suction created by sucking through a straw can dislodge your blood clot

Ah right, thanks

Definitely don't want that!

Bloody teeth, they're so much grief

Thanks everyone. I feel strangely comforted that it's not just me, but then again I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Dh had one extracted relatively recently so he keeps looking at the socket for me and he seems to think it looks fine. I'm barely eating - terrified of aggregating it, but I have to eat 3x a day so I can take my antibiotic.

First thing in the morning feels the worst. I'm having stress related dreams - think my brain is processing the agony and the ordeal. But then I wake up with a stiff jaw and sore mouth. I'm just terrified of that pain returning.

I've had 3x dcs and 2 without pain relief - yet this pain was something else. I've no idea why no one has invented anything that will properly help with dental pain. Ibuprofen and paracetamol did absolutely nothing!

I've been rinsing 4x a day and brushing my teeth gently twice a day. Kept up with ibuprofen but not bothered with paracetamol.

How are you feeling today OP? I’m day 2 and still feel quite stressed and emotional. Not too much pain but feel quite swollen and a bit tender. I keep obsessively checking it to make sure the blood clot hasn’t dislodged. I’m so worried about there being a problem over Christmas. Finding it hard to get motivated for Christmas but need to give myself a little shake and get on I think!

Thanks for the message. I'm struggling a bit tbh. The emotional side sounds pretty standard doesn't it and I'm also very worried about Christmas and the lack of dentists.

A bruise has appeared on the outside of my cheek (?) and whilst my infection is hugely reduced, my gum is still sore and swollen but admittedly far better than it was. It's very hard to know what's normal and when I should worry. My antibiotics finish tomorrow.

The practice sent out aftercare instructions via email and me asked to email back with any questions so I have asked when I should worry. Waiting for a reply.

On the plus side I've lost 7lbs! I have no idea how because I am eating but not very much. I suppose that's 2.5 weeks of agony for you.

Huge solidarity with everyone else going through this, it really is the pits.

sorry to hear your struggling too. I think the anxiety is worse than the discomfort. I also had weird stressful dreams last night and woke up with a very heavy head and felt exhausted.

It’s very strange I had a wisdom tooth removed many years ago and have no recollection of feeling this way about it!

It’s kind of nice to know I’m not the only one feeling emotional about it but sorry you’re feeling this way too. Annoying the extraction should have been done a couple of weeks ago but I was ill and had to cancel. I think it’s definitely the worry of Christmas availability in the event of a problem that is making me feel more anxious.

also feeling a bit miffed that most of the lovely food I’ve stocked in the fridge is unlikely to pass my lips this Christmas! Still I would settle for half a stone weight loss in compensation!!

I also had a wisdom tooth removed! Think it was about 10 years ago, I was not like this at all, but then, not everyone gets wisdom teeth, you don't need them. I think it's different and accounts for why I didn't feel emotional.

Dh doesn't get why I feel the way I do. He had a tooth removed and wasn't bothered. I really didn't want to have it done. And I still sort of regret it, although I know I didn't have much of a choice. That, or the incredible pain.

That's annoying that you should have been out of this stage by now, if it wasn't for illness. I had the anxiety dreams too - and burst into tears yesterday. What a headmash.

It's gutting about the Christmas food too. I also can't drink because I'm on the no drinking antibiotics.

I find every morning I wake up really down and low, but by bedtime im much better. I hope I perk up by Christmas morning. Are you getting like that?

Yes mornings are a slog to be honest. I’m off work now for Xmas but I’m struggling to get up and going. There’s still quite a bit to sort out for Christmas and I just can’t get motivated. Still in my pj’s now.

I cancelled seeing friends yesterday and again today which isn’t like me at all. I’m going to take the dog out down the country park. It’s raining but I’m hoping a good dose of fresh air will help.

Fortunately I have teens who will likely sleep in Christmas morning so I can get myself up and put on a happy face by the time they’re up!! Although with a couple more days to go I hope I feel a bit better.
Just had a cup of tepid coffee (yum!) as I haven’t had any since the tooth came out and I don’t think the caffeine withdrawal is helping my body at all!

How's it going snarky?

I feel fine tonight, mentally fine, no pain, no lump or bruising/swelling. But I know that tomorrow morning I'm likely to wake a complete mess again.

It's almost like being postnatal. Weird.

I read an article about grieving for a tooth, a loss of a native part of you and that it is a signal that you're getting older. Which I get, I think that's what's knocked me.

Are you going to go with a gap? Or are you going to look at anything to fill it?

Implants seem sooo expensive but if it's going to effect me a lot then I would seriously consider it.

I had an extraction last month. I Ignored the rinsing with warm salt water advice for a few days, but when it was still sore after a few days, I got antibs and was reminded and it really does make a difference quite quickly. Just dont spit hard/or use straws to make sure you don't dislodge the clot.

@Tonicandgin like you I’m much better this evening. Managed to wrap all the presents and made myself take ds out for hot chocolate (tepid chocolate for me!). Little bit sore but nothing that needs painkillers.

the gap is much bigger than I anticipated but I’m also halfway through orthodontic and have fixed braces. It was never the plan to remove a tooth as part of my treatment and they’ve done everything to avoid it but my orthodontist decided it was now the best way to move forward. My bottom teeth are a little over crowded so once the bottom brace goes back on then the gap should become less as the teeth are moved and straightened. I think if I didn’t know the gap will become less I’d be a lot more upset than I am now.

I think I will have to see how the gap feels after the braces come off completely. I may consider an implant if the gap is big enough, both cosmetically and because I don’t want my teeth to “drift” over which is a possibility. By the time I’ve finished my treatment I’ll have spent £6k on my bloody teeth so if I need an implant to make sure it’s the best result I will.

ironically I only started treatment with braces because my top set are so gappy due to adult teeth that never grew in. So I’ve lived with large gaps my whole life. Finally on my way to getting them closed up and ended up with an extra gap!

if you can find the money for implants and the gap continues to upset you I’d say go for it. I’ve wanted to get my teeth fixed forever and apart from this current bump in the road so far I’m really pleased with the changes and really excited for the finished result.

Good to know that rinsing with salt water does help I’m doing it religiously!

I'm undergoing implant treatment now, and has three extractions over the past 2 years. For me the emotional bit is because there's someone literally in your face, so invasive. I keep getting a slight infection on one implant site so dentist is going to uncover it, I feel like I've been doing salt water rinses for ever