Jan 21, 2023

What Are the Signs of an Infection After a Tooth Extraction?

If you feel sharp and long-lasting pain after tooth extraction, it could be an infection. This complication occurs when the bacteria move to the extracted area. How much time the infected tooth will take after tooth pulling depends on the severity of the infection. In most cases, patients completely heal within one to two weeks.

How Does the Infection After a Tooth Extraction Start?

When you fail to treat the painful condition, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and lead to additional issues. Once the dentist extracts the affected tooth, the bacteria are still alive in the mouth. It is mainly in the mouth of those that have poor dental hygiene.

As you know, tooth extraction infection causes a lot of pain. So, it requires immediate action.The best way to avoid infection post-procedure is to stick to every advice of your dentist. For example, keeping the site clean, avoiding smoking immediately after the root canal, etc.

Signs of Infection After Extraction

Below are the signs that signify that infection has occurred after the tooth extraction:

Swelling

A little bit of swelling after the procedure is common. However, if you notice that swelling becomes worse with time, it means something is wrong.

Pus

Pus from the extracted site is another sign to look at. If you spot a yellow or white pus from the tooth socket, call the dentist in 46321 immediately.

Pain

Pain is the main symptom of infection after tooth extraction. It must decrease after a few days of the procedure. But if you see the pain increasing with time, it could be a cause for concern.

Bad Breath

Even after washing the mouth if your breath doesn’t smell good, it could indicate a possible infection in the mouth.

Bleeding that Does Not Stop

After the formation of a blood clot, bleeding stops. If you see ongoing bleeding that continues, it is essential to take immediate steps.

Strange Taste

After the procedure, it is normal to feel a little bad taste. But the bitter and acrid taste is something serious.

Fever

Fever is another indicator of infection after tooth pulling. Call experts at Family Dental Care – Munster for help.

Return of Discomfort

If the discomfort returns after you start feeling better, it could be a sign of infection.

How to Get Rid of Infection After Tooth Extraction?

To successfully eradicate tooth extraction infection, consider the following factors:

Antibiotics

The dentist will first perform an in-depth exam to understand what is happening in the mouth of the patient. He/she will prescribe antibiotics to reduce the discomfort.

Topical Dressing or Analgesic

Sometimes, the dental professional recommends an analgesic or other topical pain-relieving medicines to ease pain from the infected socket after the procedure.

Cold Pack

Another method for managing the pain and infection is applying a cold pack (like ice packs or bags of frozen peas) on the affected region for 15 minutes at a time.

Drawing of Pus

To eradicate the infection, the dental expert drains the pus build-up. Then, he/she sanitizes and uses topical antibiotics on the area. Draining of infection depends on the complete assessment of your symptom and visual examination of the mouth.

Root Canal Therapy

When the dentist finds an infection in the pulp of a nearby tooth, he/she will perform a root canal near you to prevent it.

Debridement

When the infection moves to the jawbone and makes it dead (necrosis), the dentist uses debridement. During the process, the expert scrapes away the necrotized jawbone.

Prescription Pain Medicines

If the pain becomes unmanageable, the dental professional offers prescription pain medications.

Use a Warm Salt Water Daily

Another step you can take is washing your mouth using warm salt water regularly. It will reduce your discomfort level after the tooth extraction.

But it is essential to carefully watch the beverage and food you take because taking something wrong could aggravate the infection further.

Call Our Dental Expert Today

The chances of infection after the tooth extraction are low. But always stay alert for any signs that could make you take further action. The sooner you take care of the infection, the less invasive and stressful the treatment.

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