Is it usual to have a slight fever after having a tooth out?

[ConDemNation]

I had a really infected tooth out on Friday. It was very painful as the anaesthetic didn;t work, due to the infection, but anyway, it's gone

I've been on strong painkillers since, which have really helped, and surprisingly today I haven't felt i needed them, which has to be good.

However I have started having a mild fever - around 37.4-37.9, and am a bit worried about it.

I was given the option of antibiotics before the extraction and after, and started them but I have a ig fear of swallowing pills and found it impossible to continue, which I know is crap of me. Usually I can psych myself up but this week has been hideous and I am stressed to the hilt, so it wasn't working and they were getting stuck in my throat.

Anyway, there is also some (TMI) drainage happening from the socket, which seems to be healing fine but is making a nasty taste in my mouth...and still a small amount of swelling on the lower cheek, which is sore to press. I imagine this is some infection still waiting to drain out.

Could this be causing the fever, or do I need to take something - I thought of asking for the liquid form of antibiotics, instead, but can't till tomorrow.
I am a bit scared of there being new infection that needs antibiotics to go away, but hoping that the fever is just part and parcel of the process and my body will get shot of the nasty stuff by itself, now the tooth is gone.

any thoughts welcome, thankyou for reading.

take the antibiotics if you can get the liquid version - chances are the infection is still lurking. Best get rid of it asap.

When I was young I was utterly incompetent at swallowing tablets - had to eat them in cheese sandwiches to get them down - have you tried that?

Wow! cheese sandwiches! No, I think that might kill me. I do cheese even less than pills But good idea, nonetheless!

Thankyou. Temp seems fine this morning and still not really any pain, just a little soreness left...hoping it will be alright, but if it starts getting worse again I will get some liquid stuff. Seeing dentist again tomorrow.

Glad to hear you are feeling better CDN.

thankyou PA you were lovely when I wasn't oK! I really appreciate it.

Am I only lovely when you arent ok. I try to be lovely all the time

i am sure you are lovely all the time!!

It does sound like s the infection is draining, in which case you need to finish a course of ABs.

The fever is probably caused by the infection.

Thankyou; I'm seeing dentist tomorrow so will ask him then, if he can prescribe the liquid form. However I found this:

'Medication. The dentist may decide to prescribe antibiotics for a few days before starting the treatment, especially if there is extensive swelling. However, an antibiotic will not clear the pus or eliminate the infection until the pus is drained. Painkillers may also be prescribed to relieve pain related to the abscess or its treatment. Antibiotics use for a few days after draining the pus could also help to clear any remaining infection.'

so maybe I should start them once it has finished draining. It's not too bad atm, a bit sore to touch from outside and tastes yucky, but I also have a slight cold today and maybe that is responsible for the temp.

Thanks for all the thoughts. Feel better just talking to people about it!

...and apparently - I rang the OOH dentist last night, for advice, and she said that if there was new infection present ie not just the last of the abscess, I would be in really severe pain - so it isn't that! Thank goodness.

It's most attractive walking around with a tissue to spit into, I must say