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What Causes Severe Pain In Jaw Post Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Hello,
I have severe pain that has lasted the past 2 days that began at the extraction site of one of my past wisdom teeth, then spread to my bottom front teeth (which are kind of squeezed together due to my past wisdom teeth growing in sideways pushing my bottom teeth together). Then the pain spread to the roof of my mouth and beneath my tongue and continued to intensify. I also noticed that pain is also deep within my ear canal. My theory for a cause comes from one of two cases. 1) The oral surgeon who removed my wisdom teeth said that he could not remove one of the roots because it was too much of a risk, that it could possibly damage a nerve, causing lifelong numbness and/or pain along my lower jaw and bottom lip, so the root was left in. 2) I have been swimming a lot the past few days and the day before this pain started, I got a lot of water in my right ear canal (the same side the pain is on). It usually drains out on its own overnight, leaving behind a droplet or two of moisture on my outer ear as evidence that it had drained. This time it did not. My fiance believes I have a severe case of swimmer's ear. I would also like to note that when I hold cool water in my mouth against my teeth, all the pain from my teeth and ear canal go away almost instantly until the water warms back up and I need more. I have been alternating between 800mg of prescription strength Ibuprofen and three capsules of Aleve every 4 hours just to dull the pain, though sometimes, especially at night, it doesn't work so well. What is wrong with me and how can I make it stop?
I have severe pain that has lasted the past 2 days that began at the extraction site of one of my past wisdom teeth, then spread to my bottom front teeth (which are kind of squeezed together due to my past wisdom teeth growing in sideways pushing my bottom teeth together). Then the pain spread to the roof of my mouth and beneath my tongue and continued to intensify. I also noticed that pain is also deep within my ear canal. My theory for a cause comes from one of two cases. 1) The oral surgeon who removed my wisdom teeth said that he could not remove one of the roots because it was too much of a risk, that it could possibly damage a nerve, causing lifelong numbness and/or pain along my lower jaw and bottom lip, so the root was left in. 2) I have been swimming a lot the past few days and the day before this pain started, I got a lot of water in my right ear canal (the same side the pain is on). It usually drains out on its own overnight, leaving behind a droplet or two of moisture on my outer ear as evidence that it had drained. This time it did not. My fiance believes I have a severe case of swimmer's ear. I would also like to note that when I hold cool water in my mouth against my teeth, all the pain from my teeth and ear canal go away almost instantly until the water warms back up and I need more. I have been alternating between 800mg of prescription strength Ibuprofen and three capsules of Aleve every 4 hours just to dull the pain, though sometimes, especially at night, it doesn't work so well. What is wrong with me and how can I make it stop?
posted on
Wed, 15 Jul 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 31 Jul 2015
Answered on
Mon, 3 Aug 2015
Last reviewed on
Hi..
Welcome to HEALTHCARE MAGIC..
I have gone through your query and can understand your concerns...
As per your complain and explanation of the symptoms that on holding water in mouth immediately relieves the pain, it has made it very clear that the cause of pain is inflammation and when you hold water in mouth it relieves the inflammatory heat and irritation and thus the pain is reduces..
It seems to me more of a condition known as DRY SOCKET as it is occurring some days after wisdom tooth extraction ad dry socket is a condition in which the blood clot that is formed after extraction of tooth that serves as a medium for initiation and progression of healing is dislodged from the extraction socket leading to unhealed and inflamed socket and causing severe pain which radiates to ear,throat,jaw and even side of head..
Swimmer's ear is a bacterial infection of outer ear canal and if it is severe type then it would have been accompanied with redness and pain in outer ear along with some malaise and fever as it is infectious in nature and it doesn't seem to be the cause as well as in case if it is due to water got behind the ear drum then it would have cause some reduced hearing and pain in ear but it does not commonly cause so much radiating pain to jaw and roof of mouth and it would not subside with water in mouth also..
So as of the entire sequence of conditions it seems to be originating from the wisdom tooth and you should consult an Oral Physician and get evaluated and in case of dry socket irrigation with hydrogen peroxide,betadine and saline and placement of Zinc oxide Eugenol pack in the socket which has to be changed every alternate day has to be done..
In case if it is not due to dental problem then consultation with an ENT expert has to be done..
As of now you should take a higher painkiller like TRAMADOL 50mg 3 to 4 times a day as per requirement..
Hope this information helps..
If you find the answer helpful please give me a Five Star Review and click on found the answer helpful as a token of appreciation..
Thanks and regards..
Dr.Honey Nandwani Arora..
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