How Soon After a Tooth Extraction Can You Run Again? (My Dentist vs. My Running Addiction)

Lisa Sabala
Feb 11
3 min read

Running is my therapy, my happy place, my escape from life’s kalat. But last week, my dentist—aka Doc Fun Police—ruined my entire existence. 😩

Okay, fine, drama rana. She was just doing her job. Pero from my perspective? It felt like personal attack when she pulled out my wisdom tooth and said:

"No running for a week."

Hala ka, mura kog gikilatan.

A WHOLE WEEK?! Ambot lang, Doc, are you trying to make me fail in life??

That’s like telling a tita she can’t chismis over kape. Like telling a BTS fan they can’t stream. Like telling ME, a person who survives on running, that I have to sit still and behave like a normal human being.

NATURALLY, I reacted with the grace of a batang gamay’g buot being told walay ice cream.

"Doc, dili pwede mag-jogging lang gamay?"

"What if mag-walkathon lang ko at sunrise?"

"Promise, I won’t run too hard!"

But Doc Fun Police just crossed her arms and gave me The Look™. You know that look. The "pagsure diha, girl" look.

"You want to run?" she said. "Sige, suwayi. Pero if magdugo napud imong gums or magka-dry socket ka, basin mauna pa imong second wisdom tooth before ka makadagan balik."

Hala, uy. Murag serious na gyud.

Fine, fine, DILI SA KO DAGAN. 😭 Pero grabe akong withdrawal symptoms, uy.

Why You Shouldn’t Run Right Away (Even If You Feel Strong—Charot, Dili Ka Hulk, Beh!)

Para sa mga stubborn runners diha, ayaw gyud suwayi. Kay basin di naka makadagan ever, unya mas tragic pa na kaysa mawala ang imong first love.

👉 Bleeding & Dry Socket Risk – Ang pagdagan maka-increase sa imong blood pressure. Unya kung mapapas ang blood clot? Welcome to Dry Socket Hell. In short, sakit nga murag gi-break ka, pero physical.

👉 Swelling & Delayed Healing – Unsaon pag-mahinay imong pagka-gwapa kung mag-puffy cheeks ka murag hamster? Ug mas taas pa imong healing time, di ka makapost og cute selfies, di ba?

👉 Dizziness & Weakness – Naka-experience naka og "Uy, okay rako!" pero kalit lang "Bitaw, dili diay ko okay."? Mao na. Ma-faint ka, unya pagmata nimo, naa naka sa hospital. Worth it? Dili!

So… When Can You Run Again?

According to Doc Fun Police, 7 days minimum before ka pwede mo-attempt og dagan. Kung surgical ang pagka-extract? Basin 10 days pa ka maka-move on.

After 3-4 days, OK ra mag-walk pero dapat hinay lang jud, walay power-walking na mura kag nag dali-dali kay na-late sa work.

How to Survive 1 Week Without Running (Lisod Pero Kaya!)

For us na addicted sa running— ayyyy kuan diay, passionately dedicated, char—here’s how to cope while waiting for the recovery period to elapse:

✔️ Walk Instead – Pwede ra mag-walk, basta dili mag-inarte nga murag gipaningot sa 10K race.

✔️ Ice & Rest – Healing = Mas dali ka makadagan balik. So ipahuway ang imong kiat-kiat tendencies.

✔️ Strength Train (Pero Dili Pabaga) – If allowed sa doc, focus sa arms, legs, ug core. Pero NO heavy lifting kay di ta gusto magdugo napud imong gums.

✔️ Live Vicariously Through Others – Stalk Strava, tan-aw race vlogs, or imagine lang nga nagdagan ka. Dramatic effect: Magtan-aw sa bintana with hugot music.

So… When Did I Run Again?

I lasted six days. 😅 Ni-attempt ko og hinay nga jogging pero makafeel jud ko sa mala-judging stare ni Doc Fun Police sa akong likod.

Pag Day 7, finally, I RAN.

And let me tell you—the first step? HEAVEN.

The first KM? FREEDOM.

Murag na-reborn ko. Murag naka-kaon og crispy lechon skin after weeks of dieting.

Moral of the Story?

Listen to your dentist. Bisag murag kontrabida siya sa imong life, bida gihapon siya in the end.

Yes, it sucks. Yes, mura kag gi-grounded sa imong parents. Pero mas maayo na kay kaysa maglabad imong gums, magdugo imong baba, or worse—ma-end imong running career.

The road will still be there. Your legs won’t forget. And when you finally run again, it will be the best feeling in the world.

(But Doc, if you’re reading this… pwede dili lang one week? Kanang one day lang guro kay keribels sa powers. Asking for a friend. 😂)