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[britmom]

I seem to be bombarding this board with my health problems at the moments, but here's another one:
I had a wisdom tooth removed last Monday. It wasn't impacted; it was just a regular extraction with local anaesthetic. Everything seemed fine, and there was no pain or swelling for the first 3 days.  However, on day 4, I realised that the gum, particularly on the inside of my mouth, is really swollen. Over the last few days, the selling has spread a bit to the outside part of the gum. It's also sore if I push my tongue against it. It's started to throb a bit over the last few hours. I just don't know whether this is normal? My dentist didn't give me any guidelines and I'm panicking that an infection's setting in. I've got a headache and just generally feel crap (but, then again, I've had a killer day with my two tykes darling girls). Anyone share to care their, erm, wisdom on this?

[polly_mer]

Go to your dentist and get checked or go to your doctor and get checked.

I had severe problems getting my wisdom teeth extracted, but recovery was straightforward going from needing the pain killers to being basically ok after a couple of days.  I don't think things should get worse after you've been fine for a few days.

[systeme_d_]

See your dentist or your doctor.

I had three impacted wisdom teeth removed at once, and this doesn't sound quite right to me.

[scotia]

It is probably worth giving NHS Direct (NHS 24) a call. Last time I developed a severe sinus problem over the weekend they set me up with an appointment with an emergency doctor so I could get antibiotics, without having to wait for my GP's surgery to open on Tuesday (it was a bank holiday on the Monday and by Tuesday I am sure my head would have exploded).

[britmom]

Thanks for the responses. That was what I was thinking, but I was hoping that I was just being a wimp. (Perhaps the swelling and pain was a result of bruising?!) It really shouldn't be getting worse though, should it? My ear on that side has started throbbing. <<<sigh>>> I'll be ringing my dentist first thing on Monday. I just hope that it doesn't get worse in between.

On preview: thanks, Scotia. I was thinking of ringing either NHS 24 or the number for the emergency dentist. I'm going to crawl in to bed and deal with this in the morning

[niceday]

Yes, there are some issues that can arise with extracted wisdom teeth *atfer* three or four days rather than immediately. It's called a dry socket - basically, the blood clot over the wound started to form but then fell off.

It is worth an emergency call, if you can as it will get painful if that is the case. I wouldn't wait until Monday. Painkillers help but also check out these guidelines.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/dry-socket-topic-overview

[merinoblue]

In the meantime, you can try periodic rinsing with warm (not hot) water and some salt. It will probably sting, but the warm water will be soothing, and the salt will make the water isotonic (less irritating than plain water).

[systeme_d_]

In the meantime, you can try periodic rinsing with warm (not hot) water and some salt. It will probably sting, but the warm water will be soothing, and the salt will make the water isotonic (less irritating than plain water).

If I am recalling correctly, you are not supposed to do that.  No rinsing, because it can cause dry socket.  (If Britmom had dry socket already, she'd know it, I think.  It is incredibly painful.)

What helped me was biting down (not hard) on a piece of sterile gauze.

[britmom]

In the meantime, you can try periodic rinsing with warm (not hot) water and some salt. It will probably sting, but the warm water will be soothing, and the salt will make the water isotonic (less irritating than plain water).

If I am recalling correctly, you are not supposed to do that.  No rinsing, because it can cause dry socket.  (If Britmom had dry socket already, she'd know it, I think.  It is incredibly painful.)

What helped me was biting down (not hard) on a piece of sterile gauze.

Thanks for the replies.

My dentist instructed me to rinse with salt water after each meal for the first 3-4 days. I restarted that after the swelling started. I don't know whether this was the right thing to do or not, but it certainly hasn't been stinging.

Well, I made it through the night without any problems and the situation hasn't got any worse. I'm taking ibuprofen every 4-6 hours, which seems to be keeping everything under control. Assuming it stays like that, I'll hang on until Monday morning.

[krisanthe]

Hi Britmom,

Any update?  Hopefully it was not a dry socket; I hear those are painful.

something similar happened to me when I had my wisdom teeth removed.  Apparently my stitches had gotten loose and food particles were able to get into the site of one of my extractions.  It caused an infection so I had to go back on antibiotics.  My oral surgeon had to open the site back up to clean it.  Not fun at all. But two days later the swelling had gone down and I haven't had any problems since.

[britmom]

Thanks for checking back. I don't know whether this is possible, but I wonder whether the bone was bruised? It's been mostly OK for the last few weeks, but has started bleeding again. Strange.