Got my tooth extracted, how do i tell if it's infected?

Extraction site care: Of course the socket will be sore after extraction, usually peaking at 3 days after and this is normal. If the socket continues to increase in pain after 3 days, you may have a 'dry socket' which is inflammation from bacterial growth. These tend to be worse at nighttime. Make sure you irrigate the socket gently with warm salt water in an irrigating syringe to clear food particles.

Revisit the dentist: To really know for sure, revisit the dentist that made the extraction. If you are swollen & have fever then it's infected & you need antiobiotics. If it just hurts it could be something else. Why wouldn't you call the dentist that did the extraction & discuss it with him?

Signs, see DDS: Pain, swelling, & fever are the three cardinal signs of an infection. Therefore, if the pain is not going away or getting worse, you have swelling all of a sudden when you didn't before or the swelling is getting worse, or you have a fever with no other apparent cause, all signs of an infection. You shouldn't have to figure this out for yourself. See your dentist for routine post-op care.