Swelling and bruising can really vary—some folks barely notice anything, others get a pretty puffy cheek for a few days. It’s not always just luck, though; things like how tricky the extraction was or even just genetics play a role. I wouldn’t stress if you don’t see much swelling, but if it gets worse after day three or you get a fever, that’s worth checking in about. And yeah, poking at the site with your tongue is super tempting... but it does slow healing a bit. Easier said than done, I know.
I was back to work after two days, but I took it easy—no heavy lifting or anything. The swelling wasn’t too bad for me, just a little sore. Ice packs and sticking to soft foods helped a ton. It’s wild how different everyone’s recovery is.
Funny how it varies so much. I remember after my last extraction, I needed almost a week before I felt steady enough to get back to my usual stuff. Swelling wasn’t bad, but the ache lingered. Maybe age slows things down? I did live on mashed potatoes and yogurt for days...
I actually bounced back in just a couple days after my extraction, but I think it was partly because I couldn't afford to miss work. Pain meds helped but I mostly stuck to cheap soups and soft bread. Age might play a part, but sometimes it's just luck or how complicated the tooth was.
I wish I’d bounced back that fast. Mine took almost a full week before I felt normal again, and honestly, I was super cautious because I kept worrying about dry socket. Maybe I’m just more anxious than most, but I was scared to eat anything except yogurt and mashed potatoes for days. The pain wasn’t terrible, but the nerves definitely made recovery feel longer. Guess everyone’s different—my extraction was pretty straightforward, but my anxiety definitely dragged things out.