Gum pain after tooth extraction - causes, treatment, where to go

Tooth extraction is not a pleasant process. Painful sensations and swelling of the gums after extraction of a tooth are an adequate response of the body to the operation. Usually, unpleasant symptoms increase 3-4 hours after the effect of the anesthetic drug wears off. Normally, pain, swelling, redness of the mucous membrane after a conventional extraction are observed for another 2-3 days; after a complex extraction, symptoms persist for 3-5 days. If your gums hurt after tooth extraction after 7 days or longer, you need a medical examination.

Why does my gum hurt?

Unexpressed aching pain and slight swelling of the gums appear due to injuries to soft tissues, nerves, and jaw bone when removing a tooth from its bed. The gum tissue swells, the nerve endings are compressed, hence the pain. How much your gums hurt after tooth extraction depends on:

Patient's pain sensitivity;
degree of complexity of the intervention;
features of the clinical case;
location of the dental unit (after extraction of molars, the injury is greater, the pain lasts longer);
state of immunity.

The body’s normal response from the development of complications is distinguished by the following properties: the pain does not intensify, pathological symptoms are present for no more than 7 days, and no other signs of deterioration in well-being are observed.

Limited osteomyelitis of the tooth socket

Inflammation of the bone tissue in the area of the extracted tooth :

How long does your gum hurt after tooth extraction?

Normally, after 1-3 days, tissue swelling gradually decreases, pain goes away, and health improves. Already on the 3-4th day, the blood clot is gradually replaced by granulate, and after a week it fills the entire hole. After tooth extraction in the upper jaw, the recovery time is identical to the lower jaw, but bone regeneration in the upper dentition occurs more slowly.

In some clinical cases, the surgeon may cut the gum and drill out the jaw bone. Typically, such manipulations accompany the extraction of the outer eighth molars (wisdom teeth). Then healing takes longer than after a simple operation.

If 5-7 days after the intervention the pain does not decrease, but rather becomes more intense, you should consult a doctor. Acute, nagging, constant pain after tooth extraction can be a symptom of complications.

The tooth socket heals in approximately 2-4 weeks. Recovery time depends on the parameters of the wound and the body’s reaction to the removal procedure. Bone volume is restored approximately 6 months after the intervention.

Folk remedies

Let's look at useful rinse recipes that are used to treat gingivitis and alveolitis after tooth extraction.

One tablespoon of dry crushed chamomile (sage, calendula) should be steamed with 250 ml of boiling water. The mixture should be left for an hour, wrapped in a towel, then filtered and used for rinsing. It is recommended to rinse your mouth every 2-3 hours.

The following healing recipes will help relieve inflammation and relieve discomfort:

Mix 20 drops each of tea tree oil, cloves and liquid vitamins A and E, add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Moisten a cotton swab with the resulting medicine and apply it to the painful area.
Wet baking soda with water to form a paste and apply it to the inflamed area.

ASEPTA gel with propolis will help you quickly cope with gum inflammation. This unique product containing the waste product of bees relieves inflammation of the gums by 31%, has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effects against gram-positive bacteria, as well as antipruritic and analgesic effects (reduces the pain of affected tissues), accelerates the process of regeneration and epithelization of wound surfaces, stimulates metabolic processes.

We hope that our recommendations for the treatment of gum inflammation after tooth extraction will be for informational purposes only. Treat yourself carefully and remember: at the first symptoms - acute pain in the gums, sudden changes in temperature, severe swelling of the gums, discharge of purulent exudate - consult a doctor as soon as possible. A lesion can be disastrous, so take care of yourself after surgery.

Sources:

Clinical and laboratory assessment of the influence of domestic therapeutic and prophylactic toothpaste based on plant extracts on the condition of the oral cavity in patients with simple marginal gingivitis. Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Elovikova T.M.1, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor Ermishina E.Yu. 2, Doctor of Technical Sciences Associate Professor Belokonova N.A. 2 Department of Therapeutic Dentistry USMU1, Department of General Chemistry USMU2
Clinical studies of antisensitive toothpaste “Asepta Sensitive” (A.A. Leontyev, O.V. Kalinina, S.B. Ulitovsky) A.A. LEONTIEV, dentist O.V. KALININA, dentist S.B. ULITOVSKY, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Department of Therapeutic Dentistry, St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova
Comparative clinical evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment of traumatic lesions of the oral mucosa IORDANISHVILI A.K. *,** Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department *Department of Orthopedic Dentistry of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “North-Western State Medical University named after. I.I. Mechnikov" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (rector - Doctor of Medical Sciences Sayganov S.A.); **Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Surgical Dentistry of the Federal State Budgetary Military Educational Institution of Higher Education “Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov" of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (chief - Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor A.Ya. Fisun).
The role of anti-inflammatory rinse in the treatment of periodontal diseases (L.Yu. Orekhova, A.A. Leontyev, S.B. Ulitovsky) L.Yu. OREKHOVA, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof., Head of Department; A.A. LEONTIEV, dentist; S.B. ULITOVSKY, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Department of Therapeutic Dentistry of St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I. P. Pavlova
Report on clinical trials of anti-inflammatory balm for gums "Asepta" adhesive, St. Petersburg State Medical University, 2007
Report on determining/confirming the preventive properties of commercially produced personal oral hygiene products: Asepta toothpaste used in combination with Asepta mouthwash and Asepta gum balm Head. Department of PFS Doctor of Medical Sciences Professor S.B. Ulitovsky St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Academician I.P. Pavlova. Faculty of Dentistry. Department of Preventive Dentistry.

What happens if you ignore pathological pain

The appearance of pain always signals a problem in the body. If the tooth was removed long ago, and the pain persists or increases, this is evidence of a complication. Pain may be associated with:

Increased body temperature;
severe swelling, redness of the mucous membrane;
halitosis;
purulent discharge from the socket;
white or gray coating on the mucous membrane;
enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes;
pain while swallowing;
restriction when opening the mouth.

In this situation, you should see a doctor immediately.

Ignoring alarming symptoms is fraught with serious problems, such as abscess and osteomyelitis. These are serious pathologies that require timely, qualified treatment.

Tissue damage

During extraction, soft tissue is inevitably damaged. Sometimes the doctor even has to cut the gum to gain access to the unerupted crown. Until complete healing, the wound may be slightly painful, and the tissue around it will remain red and swollen for some time. The pain can radiate to neighboring crowns or even ears. If the discomfort becomes less pronounced every day, swelling and redness subside, there is no need to worry.

You should urgently seek medical help if:

inflammation and pain intensify,
not only the soft tissues in the oral cavity swelled, but also the cheek,
there was an unpleasant taste in the mouth,
pus is released from the wound.

All this indicates inflammation of the tissue in the hole.

How to get rid of pain at home

To eliminate postoperative pain, the dentist will prescribe analgesics and cold compresses on the side of the intervention. Additionally, you can use traditional methods - mouth baths made from tinctures or herbal decoctions. Baths with an antiseptic drug are also allowed (the solution must be held in the mouth for a while and spat out). What is strictly forbidden:

warm the operated area;
rinse your mouth intensively (you can wash out the blood clot);
chew on the injured side;
“check” the hole using your tongue, fingers, and apply medicine to it.

The risk of complications depends on the complexity of the operation to remove a dental unit. Simple extraction is carried out if the tooth does not have strong, intertwined roots, it is intact, and there are no associated problems (cysts, pulpitis, periodontitis, etc.).

Extraction of dystopic teeth, which are very crooked, have intertwined, crooked roots, with a destroyed coronal part, and with an inflammatory process, is considered difficult. In such cases, a more extensive operation may be necessary with a preliminary incision in the gum, sawing the tooth into elements, extracting fragments through a hole in the jaw bone, and applying sutures. Molars are usually difficult to remove. If your gums hurt for several days after the removal of a molar, but the painful symptoms are smoothed out, then the wound is healing normally.

Prevention measures

Naturally, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner and begin treatment, since the inflammatory process can lead to serious consequences. For preventive purposes, you must remember the following:

Tooth extraction operations should only be performed by a trusted, experienced specialist who works specifically in the field of surgery;
Follow all doctor’s recommendations for treatment and recovery exactly to avoid negative consequences;
Undergo complex treatment without completing it in advance because you feel well. Interruption of therapy until complete recovery can cause an aggravation of health, lead to the formation of bacteria and a new inflammatory process.

With proper treatment and no complications, the problem is cured within a few days.
The patient must remain in bed for several days to fully recover. Minor pain in the area of the extracted tooth may periodically bother you for 3 weeks, but it will be less intense and will gradually go away. Remember, it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner and undergo comprehensive treatment so as not to bring your health to a critical point. This article is for informational purposes only, please consult your doctor for details! Ask your doctor about contraindications and side effects.

Information on the use of drugs

If the procedure was not complicated, it is quite possible that painkillers will not be needed during the recovery period. But it’s better to take an analgesic half an hour before the end of the anesthesia (the doctor will tell you about the approximate time). This will help prevent pain, which is almost inevitable after a complex removal, accompanied by drilling the bone, opening an abscess, cutting out affected tissue, suturing, etc. Drugs such as ketanov, nimesil, nimik, etc. will help you quickly cope with pain. Among other things, they also have an anti-inflammatory effect.

The patient must inform the doctor about his state of health and existing diseases. This is especially important when it comes to arterial hypertension, diabetes, hemophilia, and low platelet levels in the blood. Your dentist should also know if you have a tendency to nosebleeds or have recently had an acute respiratory infection or the flu. In this case, the specialist selects individual methods for caring for the hole.

Root removal

How is the root of a tooth removed if the tooth is completely destroyed? Despite this situation, extraction is not always recommended. If, after diagnosis, the doctor determines that the root can be used for an inlay, then the tooth is restored with a crown. But if there is pain, an unpleasant smell and taste, or swelling has developed, then dental care is required urgently. In this case, the question of whether to remove the roots of the teeth is decided in favor of the operation, since the neglected condition can also lead to the loss of neighboring elements.

Regardless of the chosen technique, pain relief and X-ray control are required after removal. This allows you to make sure that there are no root fragments in the cavity, since it is often loose and can crumble under slight pressure from the forceps.

Home care

After surgery, you can take antiseptic baths on the first day. To do this, you can use furatsilin, chlorhexidine 0.05% or another antiseptic as prescribed by a doctor.

On the second day, you can already brush your teeth using a soft brush. Be careful not to touch the tooth socket, which should still contain a blood clot. After cleaning, you need to rinse the brush in an antiseptic and place it in a sterile place. On the same day, you can take warm baths based on sea salt. To do this, you need to dilute half a tsp. salt in 250-300 ml of water and add 0.25 tsp. soda

Sometimes doctors recommend baths with decoctions for healing. This can be oak bark, elecampane, sage, St. John's wort, chamomile and other plants.

Important! Swelling of the gums and cheeks may be a sign of complications.

In most cases, complications are the result of damage to the blood clot inside the socket. If the wound surface is broken, infection enters the hole. An acute inflammatory process develops. This is signaled by the rapid increase in swelling of the gums and cheeks. This situation requires prompt medical intervention.

When exactly should you go to the doctor?

swelling increases despite the fact that more than 2 days have passed since surgery;
throbbing pain in the gum, cheek, jaw has appeared and is intensifying;
body temperature reaches 38℃ and above, lasts more than 1 day;
there was a pain in the throat when swallowing;
there is a feeling of weakness and malaise.

The dentist will clean and disinfect the hole with a special antiseptic; if necessary, perform additional surgery and prescribe antibiotic therapy. After treatment, swelling of the gums and cheeks will completely disappear, and the condition will return to normal.

“Center for Modern Dentistry” invites you for treatment and tooth extraction. Our surgeons will perform the operation carefully and painlessly, minimizing the risk of complications. If necessary, you will be provided with emergency assistance for gum swelling, eliminate postoperative complications, and help you recover.