How Bad Does A Tooth Need To Be To Be Extracted & Common FAQs

Whether we are kids, teens, or older, we might need to extract one or more of our teeth for different reasons.

But we are usually not sure when to extract our tooth, and we end up affecting our oral health.

Just because you have normal tooth pain doesn’t mean you should rush to the dentist to have the tooth extracted.

So the question arises, how long should you wait before considering a teeth extraction?

In what condition should we visit a dentist to remove one or more teeth?

How bad does a tooth need to be to be extracted?

And there’s plenty of other questions as well, so let’s find out their answers.

Related Blog Posts:

• 1. How Long After Tooth Extraction Can I Drink Soda
• 2. How to Stop a Toothache from a Broken Tooth Fast at Home – (15 HOME REMEDIES.)

How bad does a tooth need to be to be extracted?

You need to keep an eye on certain symptoms before considering tooth extraction.

Here are some determining factors when you need to consider tooth extraction!

Periodontal or gum diseases

Periodontal diseases are generally the result of infections and inflammation of the gums and bone.

Its early signs can cause gingivitis, a gum disease that causes irritations, swelling, and redness.

Other symptoms of periodontal diseases include:

• Tender or bleeding gums
• Painful chewing
• Sensitive teeth
• Loose teeth
• Bad breath
• Etc.

Consult with a periodontist if you are suffering from these symptoms!

You may need tooth extractions if you are suffering from advanced periodontal disease!

The tooth is badly damaged

Tooth removal is necessary if your tooth is severely damaged or broken that it can’t be restored with dental treatment such as a crown.

Leaving such tooth unextracted can lead to severe pain and may affect other teeth as well.

Thus, you must consult with a dentist for tooth removal if your one or more tooth is broken through an accident or is decayed by some oral disease.

Extraction may require for the impacted tooth

An impacted tooth is one that is blocked from breaking through the gum. This condition goes the same with the wisdom tooth.

It is usually recommended to extract the impacted tooth to prevent it from damaging other teeth.

Also, removing the extracted tooth may help reduce the risk of infection and overcrowding.

Teeth crowding

Crowding is the lack of space between the teeth, mostly happens when one or more tooth are larger than the available place.

The problem with teeth crowding is that it puts pressure between neighbor teeth and may cause irritation, pain, and damage to one or more than one tooth.

In this condition, the dentist usually recommends extracting one or more teeth to bring a proper alignment between the teeth.

Tooth infection

Tooth infection or abscess is a collection of pus and bacteria inside the tooth or gum.

If not appropriately treated, tooth infections can affect other areas of your body as well.

While that’s pretty weird, that is indeed the reality!

What’s more, the infection can even lead to severe health conditions.

So, an infected tooth must be extracted as soon as possible so you can keep yourself safe from any harm.

Pain in teeth

People often feel severe pain in their teeth, and the pain may occur due to filling, crown, or treatment for a root canal.

The pain could be too severe that you might need a tooth extraction.

Difficulty in eating

Improper tooth alignment can cause problems in biting, causing difficulties for you to chew any food easily.

For that reason, your dentist might recommend the tooth extraction to maintain a proper alignment.

Vehicle accident

It is a must to consult with a dental expert after a car accident.

Have a checkup even if you’ve been hit with a slight force.

In minor injury, you may need dental bonding, crowns, bridges, or veneers.

However, if your issue is severe, tooth extraction may also be needed.

What to expect before a tooth extraction?

You’ll have to go through oral X-rays before the extraction procedure.

If you are having an impacted tooth, your dentist may need to make an incision in your gum tissues to expose the tooth thoroughly.

The process won’t be painful, as the dentist will give you anesthesia, which will induce unconsciousness in your gums.

However, you will feel excessive pain in the mouth after some hours if your tooth is extracted through surgery.

Post tooth extraction Instructions

Surgical extractions require one or more stitches at the extraction site.

It is essential to follow your dentist’s post-extraction instructions to speed up recovery and prevent any complications.

Here are some essential points you should always follow after surgical extractions.

• Apply a gauze pad to the extracted site for 30 minutes. Repeat this to control bleeding. Do not use a gauze pad once the bleeding is reduced.
• Take only soft-foods for the first 24 hours after the extraction.
• Rehydrate yourself using cold liquids after the bleeding subsides.
• In the first two hours, avoid unnecessary talking, eating, and drinking.
• Don’t use mouthwash and avoid brushing your teeth for 12 hours.
• Avoid putting any force over the tooth extraction site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the common questions that people usually ask before or after having a tooth extraction.

How long after the tooth extraction one can eat solid

Any solid food is prohibited for the first 24 – 48 hours of extraction.

Only soft or semi-soft foods are allowed on the first day. Mainly yogurt, pudding, jelly, ice-cream, etc.

However, you may have to avoid solid foods like pizza, biscuit, chocolates for more days if you are experiencing pain or bleeding in your mouth.

How long after the tooth extraction one can drink coffee

You might be craving to have a cup of hot coffee after tooth extraction, but you can only take it after 24- 48 hours of tooth removal.

You may have to skip coffee or hot drinks for even a week if your wounds are not healed.

Thus, it is better to let the extraction site heal before you take any hot drinks.

How long after the tooth extraction can you drink soda?

TLDR: 24-48 hours

We have already written an entire blog post on this topic, so check out this blog post if you want to know the answer. 

The Bottom Line

We hope you have now learned that:

When you should and should not reach your dentist to have your tooth extracted!

Take better care of your teeth, as once they are broken or decayed, there is hardly a chance to get those original teeth back in your mouth.

Also, follow the above pre & post tooth extraction guidance so you can keep yourself safe from possible oral issues.