So you just got a tooth extracted and you are wondering how long does tooth extraction pain last? Maybe you just got your wisdom teeth removed or it was just a tooth extraction, these procedures can be rough! Your tooth extraction pain will last usually between one or two weeks. During this time your body needs to heal the area that the tooth was extracted from. New gum tissue and bone will slowly will in this gap were the tooth was.
In the case of a tooth extraction over time the gap in your teeth from this tooth extraction may cause other teeth to shift. This may cause a change in your teeth potion or making it harder to chew food. Your dentist will give you advice on moving forward and if this will be a problem. They may recomend getting a tooth implant, or a bridge for your gap.
After your tooth extraction you will experience pain, and irritation in the area of the tooth that got extracted. This pain and irritation will last between three to seven days at most. Most of the most server pain you feel should go away between 24 and 72 hours after the extraction. When you leave your appointment the dentist should give you recovery instructions that are important for the healing process. Follow these insturctions and any other tips from your dentist to avoid any unnecessary pain.
In more rare cases, the healing process may take longer. These might be an infection or damage to your nerves in your mouth. Any of these cases will increase the length of recovery time.
The best way to shorten how long tooth extraction pain last is to manage it! You should follow all the instructions given to you from your dentist at the time of your appointment. We also have a list of some more tips to help with your pain!
- Keep Down Swelling – You will most likely experience some swelling in the are of your tooth extraction. To help keep the swelling down in the extraction area use an ice pack. Apply the ice pack to the outside of your cheek right after the appointment. You should only leave the ice pack on your cheek in 10 minute increments. The swelling will change day by day.
- Bite down on the dental gauze – Your dentist will likely have a gauze in your mouth on the extraction point. You can use this gauze to help reduce the bleeding and allow a blood clot to form. This blood clot will form in the open are were your tooth was and slow down the bleeding. You should change this gauze with it has been soaked in blood.
- Take your prescription – The dentist prescribed you those pain killers for a reason! If you did not get pain killers go ahead and get some over the counter pain killers like Ibuprofen.
You don’t just want to manage the pain of your tooth extraction. The pain for your tooth extraction can last awhile. You also want to recover from it! Follow the below tips to help with the recovery of your tooth extraction.
- Don’t use a straw – You should try not to drink out of a straw for at least a week after the extraction.
- Take a rest day – Take the day off and just relax after your tooth extraction. Your body needs to heal itself.
- …but keep your head up – While you are resting, making sure to keep your head elevated. Laying flat might cause longer bleeding time.
- Don’t rinse our your mouth – Rinsing or spiting can cause the clot from forming in your tooth gap that you just created, we don’t want that!
- Keep brushing those teeth – Make sure you keep brushing your teeth after the extraction. Avoid the area of the extracted tooth.
While it is completely normal to experience pain from a tooth extraction sometimes its time to call your dentist. You will experience mild pain, swelling and bleeding from your extraction. If your extraction area if bleed a lot or if you are in immense pain for more then a couple hours after the appointment call your dentist as soon as possible.
If you experience fever or chills, vomiting, excessive swelling or bleeding contact your dentist right away.
