Feverish after wisdom teeth extraction?!
Question: I got my wisdom teeth removed on Friday and I was feeling pretty good up until last night. I was very cold and could not warm myself up. I thought maybe it was just because I haven't been eating normal meals, just applesauce, jello or macaroni and cheese occasionally. I always rinse my mouth with salt water after eating any "meal". Now I'm feeling really feverish. I don't have a temperature but I have that overall yuck feeling. I took percocet the first few days after the surgery and then switched to IBU 600 which seems to help the fever symptoms. I'm wondering if this is an infection or if it's just normal?
Any knowledgable answers are appreciated.
Answers: I got my wisdom teeth removed on Friday and I was feeling pretty good up until last night. I was very cold and could not warm myself up. I thought maybe it was just because I haven't been eating normal meals, just applesauce, jello or macaroni and cheese occasionally. I always rinse my mouth with salt water after eating any "meal". Now I'm feeling really feverish. I don't have a temperature but I have that overall yuck feeling. I took percocet the first few days after the surgery and then switched to IBU 600 which seems to help the fever symptoms. I'm wondering if this is an infection or if it's just normal?
Any knowledgable answers are appreciated.
Unless your teeth are feeling like they're infected, chances are you're just feeling generally unwell. Just get some rest and you'll be fine in a day or two. If you don't get better in a few days go to the doctors and they can just give you some antibiotics which'll take care of you.
I would give your dentist a call. There could be a number of things going on ranging from just your own individual healing process to a possible infection in the area where the tooth was removed. This is particularly likely if you are also noticing a nasty taste in your mouth or worsening swelling. In rare cases, people who get such infections and have a history of a heart murmur can have an additional problem known as bacterial endocarditis. If you have a history of a murmur, your doc probably gave you some antibiotics before the procedure. Short answer-be safe and call the doc, he'll probably try to fit you in tomorrow. If you start getting a fever that won't respond to the Motrin you may want to consider going to the ER.
It is good advice to call your dentist. He may put you on antibiotics. There is something about extracting wisdom teeth that brings on "dry socket" . That is probably what you are beginning to experience. There is a difference between swelling due to trauma and infection. A dry socket is an infection of the boney socket that once housed the tooth. Your dentist may want to irrigate and pack the socket with antiseptic gauze. Get that done tomorrow.
DDS 33 years