Let me just say—no one warned me. Not about the mental load, the random waves of pain, the “Is this normal?” panic, or how emotional I’d feel over a couple missing molars.
I had two upper molars pulled—one on each side—and that alone made things harder. You can’t really chew on either side, which meant every single bite (or attempt at a bite) became a full mental game. I wasn’t prepared for the kind of downtime this recovery would need. I thought I’d be up and feeling like myself in a couple days. Spoiler: I was very, very wrong.
The Day of the Extraction
My extractions were on April 16th at 10 a.m. It wasn’t an overly traumatic experience at the office itself, but once the numbing wore off… it was a different story. My dentist recommended calling in strong pain meds but I declined and instead took over the counter pain meds instead, but I still felt achy and uncomfortable almost constantly. Not the sharp, unbearable kind of pain, but that dull, nagging, “I just want to be normal again” kind.
The First Few Days (a.k.a. The Fog)
Honestly, days 1 through 4 felt like a blur. The pain wasn’t completely awful, but it was always there—especially up through my jaw and sometimes into my ears. It wasn’t sharp, just this deep, achy, heavy discomfort that made it hard to focus or feel okay.
I hated having to rely on meds every day, especially being someone who avoids them when I can. Eventually, I started holding off longer between doses just to give my body a break—but that came with its own discomfort too.
No food worth eating was an option.
What I did survive on? Smoothies, mashed potatoes, and refried beans. That was basically it. I couldn’t chew, so anything that required real effort just wasn’t happening. The texture fatigue was real too—there’s only so much soft food you can mentally handle before you feel like crying. And yes, I did cry. More than once.
Day 5:
Day 5 was actually a really good day — both mentally and physically. I had prayed on Day 4, asking that Easter Sunday would be easy on me. I wanted to go to church with my family and not have the whole day clouded by pain from my extractions.
I felt so blessed to wake up that Resurrection Sunday with minimal pain. I got to hand out Easter baskets to my kids and attend church to celebrate Jesus with my family.
I may have overdone it a little — we went out, did a bit of shopping, and ended the day playing board games. But honestly, it was a day I needed.
Rollercoaster & Random Panic
By day 6, I hit a wall. I was depressed, uncomfortable, and starting to regret the whole thing. I kept looking at the sockets, wondering if I had dry socket, if something was stuck, if I was healing wrong. At one point, I felt like something was lodged in one side—white, stuck, just enough to make me panic. I rinsed with salt water (which I highly recommend over anything else) but nothing moved. I tried not to poke at it, but the discomfort made it hard to ignore.
I didn’t want to call the dentist. I felt like I should be able to tough it out, but honestly? I was exhausted—physically and emotionally.
Day 7: Light at the End of the Tunnel
Then day 7 came, I still felt healing going on, but something shifted. I felt a little more like myself. I was able to eat (VERY slowly) a large fry from Chick-fil-A. That was my first “real” food since the extraction, and let me tell you, that fry was spiritual.
It felt like a small but major victory. I was still uncomfortable, but I could tell my body was finally catching up. That constant ache in my jaw eased up just a bit. I didn’t feel the need to cry or feel down. I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Day 8:
Day 8 was overall a good day, but by the end of it, I noticed my ears started to ache a little. It wasn’t anything too unbearable, just uncomfortable enough to remind me that I was still very much healing. My meals were still pretty light: a smoothie for breakfast, a piece of bread topped with a slice of tomato and cheese (which honestly wasn’t easy to eat), and for dinner, I nibbled — and I mean nibbled — on a homemade chickpea patty.
By this point, I realized just how anxious I had become about food getting stuck in my extraction sites. The fear was real. It felt easier to just not eat at all rather than risk something lodging itself into the holes and setting back my healing. It wasn’t just physical anymore — it was mental, too.
Day 9:
The earache hung around into Day 9, coming and going throughout the day. Eating still felt like a chore I didn’t want to attempt. I stuck to my safe, easy morning smoothie (something that thankfully had been part of my routine even before all of this), and when lunchtime rolled around, I had some tomato soup. Later in the day, I made a bowl of ramen — and let’s just say there was a whole lot more slurping than chewing happening. Any “chewing” I did was really just light nibbling, trying my best to avoid any food disaster.
Day 10:
I woke up feeling the best my mouth has felt so far! My right side was still a bit more sore than my left, but I was able to eat a soft homemade quesadilla without any issues.
I do still find myself being really hesitant to eat the way I want. So, that’s meant skipping a lot of meals during this healing process. Call me stubborn in that way — I want what I want, and I’ll just wait until I can have it.
I’m very much looking forward to Day 14 because I keep hearing such great things about hitting the two-week mark and finally being able to eat more normally again.
Patience has definitely been the hardest part, but I know I’m getting so close to the finish line.
Day 11:
Today, I woke up feeling like, “Okay, every day really is going to get better, whew.”
My extraction sites are looking so good and filling in nicely. I managed to eat black bean soft tacos today without any issues, which felt like such a win. Eating still isn’t exactly fun yet, though, because I can’t chew using my back teeth — but I’m managing.
I’m staying hopeful that I’ll be biting down into a black bean burger and fries very soon!
Day 12:
I’m feeling good and optimistic as I approach the two-week mark. The pain is almost completely gone, just a slight soreness when I touch the area with my tongue—though, admittedly, I can’t help myself from doing that, even though it’s not the best habit.
I tried a chickpea wrap today, but eating with my front teeth was a bit tricky. Thankfully, dinner was pasta, which was much easier to handle.
I’m now officially counting down the days until I can have crispy tacos and onions again… Oh, how I’ve missed onions!
Day 13:
Not much to report today — which honestly feels like a win. No pain, just a little soreness if I touch one of the sites with my tongue. I’ll take it. It was one of those quiet healing days that reminded me I’m getting there, even if it’s slow and steady.
Day 14:
Finally — two weeks! This is supposed to be the big turning point, and I’d say it really is. I celebrated by drinking from a straw for the first time in what felt like forever. I never realized how much I relied on straws until I wasn’t allowed to use one. It felt like such a small freedom, but I appreciated it so much.
To top it off, my husband brought home cookies, and not only did I eat one, but I ate it with zero discomfort. That felt like a real milestone. For the first time since the extraction, I felt almost normal again — and that’s something I’ve been longing for this whole time.
What I Wish I Knew Before My Extraction
My healing survival tips from someone who lived through it — nerves, tears, mashed potatoes and all.
1. The real healing takes more than a few days.
They told me 2–3 days of rest… but they didn’t tell me I’d still be sore, tender, and cautious with food even a full week later. Plan for at least 7–10 days of being gentle with yourself.
2. Double extraction = double the struggle.
Having one tooth out is rough. Getting two pulled — one on each side — makes everything harder. Chewing, sleeping, even talking. If this is you, go in knowing it’ll be more challenging.
3. The emotional toll is real.
I wasn’t prepared for the crying, the frustration, or how down I’d feel. There were moments I regretted doing it at all. Give yourself grace. Your body’s healing, and your heart needs time, too.
4. Keep your food soft and simple.
Smoothies, mashed potatoes, tomato soup, and even refried beans were my lifelines. Avoid anything crunchy, sticky, or that might get stuck — especially before day 10. And yes, you can survive without chewing!
5. Earaches and weird pain are common.
I felt pain in my ears and even along my jawline. It scared me, but it turns out this can be totally normal. Still, trust your gut — if something feels wrong, don’t be afraid to check in with your dentist (even if you really don’t want to).
6. Salt water rinses are your best friend.
After every meal, I gently rinsed with warm salt water. It helped me feel clean, soothed the ache, and calmed my anxiety about food getting lodged in the holes.
7. Don’t rush the “real food.”
I celebrated my first real food on day 7 — a single French fry. I savored it like a gourmet meal. Take your time. Your gums will thank you.
8. Rest. A lot.
Let your body focus on healing. Take naps, sit in quiet, don’t overexert yourself. Healing well now means fewer issues later.
The Healing Journey – Final Thoughts
Two weeks ago, I walked into the dentist’s office completely unaware of what the next fourteen days would hold. I knew I was getting two top molars pulled, but I didn’t know how much it would shake me — physically, mentally, and emotionally. The early days were rough. I cried. I regretted it. I counted down the hours and prayed just to make it through the day.
There were moments when the pain was constant, my nerves felt frayed, and even eating felt like an emotional challenge. I lived on smoothies, mashed potatoes, and soft food. I questioned whether I’d ever feel “normal” again.
But now — at Day 14 — I see the light. Healing didn’t come all at once, but in slow, small victories:
- That first fry on Day 7
- A soft quesadilla on Day 10
- A cookie on Day 14 with no pain at all
Each step reminded me that I was healing. That I am healing.
This experience has been more than just dental recovery. It’s been a lesson in patience, in listening to my body, and in letting go of control. I learned it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and it’s okay to rest. Healing doesn’t always look neat or fast — but it does come.
If you’re reading this while going through your own post-extraction journey, I see you. It’s hard. But every day, you’re one step closer to normal. And trust me, cookies taste even better when you’ve fought this hard to enjoy one again.
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