Pain and swelling after extraction?!
Question:
Pain and swelling after extraction?
I had a back molar removed about 4 days ago and have noticed that the outside of my gum above near where it was extracted is still swollen (it was the last molar on the right side up top). The rest of my mouth is ok, but this area is sore and tender. It feels like a abcess almost, or a lump, and I occasionally get pain shooting down my cheek. I'm not sure if this is normal or if I have an infection... Do anyone have any ideas? I'm just curious and won't get to the dentist till tomorrow, plus it's a little worrying as I can't have antibiotics for it as I'm 31 weeks pregnant. Thanks :D
Answers:
Dry socket perhaps? A dentist once told me that any kind of sucking motion, such as drinking through a straw, smoking, etc. after a tooth extraction can dislodge the blood clot from the extraction site, allowing food particles to enter. Result: Pain and swelling. See your dentist as soon as you can.