A slight increase in body temperature is common after tooth extraction, but a true, high fever is not. The procedure is minor surgery, which triggers the immune system to begin healing. This reaction causes a temporary, low-grade temperature elevation, which is part of normal recovery. Differentiating this expected inflammatory response from a concerning fever is important for monitoring healing.
Expected Temperature Changes
The body’s immediate reaction to the tissue trauma of a tooth extraction is an inflammatory response. This process involves releasing chemical messengers, such as cytokines, which affect the body’s thermoregulation center in the brain, resulting in a minor temperature rise.
This slight temperature increase signals that the natural healing cascade is working to repair the wound and prevent infection. It is typically self-limiting, resolving on its own without specific intervention. The temperature usually remains below 100.4°F (38°C) and should not last longer than the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure.
Feeling slightly warm or experiencing mild body aches within this short timeframe is an extension of surgical recovery. This low-grade elevation is not classified as a clinical fever and can be managed with standard post-operative care, such as prescribed pain relievers. This expected change in temperature is part of the body’s defense mechanism and indicates that recovery is underway.
Recognizing a True Post-Extraction Fever
A temperature rise becomes a true post-extraction fever when it crosses the threshold of 100.4°F (38°C), the standard definition used by medical and dental professionals. While a low-grade temperature is expected, any reading at or above this mark suggests the body is fighting a more significant challenge than normal healing, often indicating a localized infection or a systemic reaction.
A fever is also concerning if it persists beyond the initial 48 hours following the extraction. When the immune system is actively fighting an established bacterial infection, the sustained release of inflammatory chemicals leads to a prolonged or spiking temperature. Persistent fever or one that climbs rapidly requires caution because it moves beyond the scope of a standard inflammatory reaction.
This abnormal temperature signals that the body may not be successfully containing bacteria at the surgical site. A high or sustained fever can be the first clear sign of a developing infection. Monitoring your temperature regularly during the first two days helps identify this shift from normal recovery to a potential problem.
Signs That Require Immediate Attention
When a true fever develops, it is important to check for other symptoms that signal a need for immediate professional contact. One urgent sign is severe or worsening pain that is not relieved by the prescribed medication. While some discomfort is normal, pain that increases after the first few days or becomes unbearable may indicate a complication like a dry socket or an infection.
Visible pus or a foul-smelling discharge from the extraction site clearly indicates a bacterial infection requiring prompt treatment. Swelling that rapidly spreads to the neck or throat, or swelling that increases instead of decreasing after 48 hours, is also a serious warning sign.
Other symptoms warranting an immediate call include an inability to swallow or difficulty opening your mouth (trismus), which suggests the infection is affecting deeper tissues. Excessive or prolonged bleeding that saturates gauze quickly and does not stop with pressure is also a cause for concern. These symptoms, especially combined with a fever, should be reported without delay.