Day After Molar Extraction - What To Do?

ordinary_girl

Hi there,
I got a molar extracted yesterday and get extremely nervous about anything to do with my teeth and going to the dentist. Anyway, I've still got quite a nasty taste in my mouth and am a bit too afraid to brush my teeth or use mouthwash. What should I do? Or would it be okay to attempt the mouthwash/teeth brushing?
Additionally, will the teeth that are now left surrounding the space where my molar used to be be okay? They feel ridiculously sensitive and painful right now.

day dreamer

A day after the extraction you can resume brushing as normal everywhere except at the extraction site. Use salty water to rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day and after eating. Take your usual painkillers and dont chew anything too hard for a few days.

The adjacent teeth will feel a little tender and that is normal, it should resolve after a 4-5 days. If you have any concerns go back to your dentist.

Kila

Oh, and don't gargle or suck the water/mouthwash around your mouth. I know it sounds silly, but you just kinda have to swoosh the water around your mouth by moving your head and then let it dribble out. Apparently gargling and sucking water/etc. in the early stages can disturb the clot, and you can end up with a dry socket, which really sucks.

Salt water is good, it'll help keep things disinfected and will soothe the ache too.

Your remaining teeth will be fine in a few days, and if not, pop back to the dentist and have them checked. Your extraction site should also be getting less painful as the days go on, so again, if that's not happening, go and have it checked - it may be that you've got something stuck in there (I got a grain of rice stuck in an extraction hole - the pain was unbelievable!) or a little infection.

ordinary_girl

Thank you both so much for your replies, they're very helpful! How long should it be til I can chew, brush my teeth and use mouthwash normally? I know I should have asked my dentist this but I had to get out of the surgery asap.

opinion guy

Hey well I got a wisdom tooth (aka third molar) out same day you did (ie two days ago). I was very careful for first day not to rinse etc. But today forgot and rinsed more normally and blew out the clot - i could see it in the sink.
Hurts like a bitch now.

so the point is don't rinse today either:D

ordinary_girl

Ouch :O Thanks for the heads up, opinion guy! I'll certainly heed that advice!

ordinary_girl

Okay, I'm going a bit mental - it's 4 days after the extraction and I've still got a really rotten taste in my mouth. There's no pain, just this vile taste. How can I get rid of it? Shouldn't it be gone by now? I've been using Corsodyl and salty water, seems to be pretty ineffective as regards the taste.

And when will it be alright to start eating solid food again? I'm petrified I'll damage the socket.

FruitLover

I was back on regular food a couple of days after my extraction, but I was very careful to chew only on the opposite side. Maybe stick with relatively safe food (i.e. soft, like pasta, bread, salad) for another day or two until you're sure you won't accidentally chew on the socket.

I don't know about the bad taste though, I didn't have that problem. Maybe make sure you keep the other teeth brushed (and don't forget your tongue) and keep up with the salt water. If you want to use mouthwash more often, I'd use regular mouthwash more than Corsodyl (it'll stain your teeth if you use it too often).

kkth0360

The strange taste could be due to the Corsodyl - altered taste is a side effect of chlorhexidine gluconate, the active ingredient.

Mingetoad

The bad taste could be the infection site clearing, or possibly a dressing the dentist put in after the extraction. One dressing called alvogyl has a particular taste, very 'antiseptic' taste to it. In any case, it is quite normal to have a bad taste after having a tooth out. Just keep it clean and it should resolve in time. 5 days is just the beginning of the overall healing (think about it, you've just had a tooth removed from your jawbone, it doesn't go back to normal quite this quick!).