A dentist will not recommend that a patient’s tooth be extracted without an excellent reason. While having a troublesome tooth removed can spare a patient from pain and infection, problems can occur if they do not take proper care of the surgical wound afterward. Here’s a brief guide to the painful condition known as dry socket, including why it happens, how you can know if you have it, and how it can be prevented.
What Is Dry Socket?
After a tooth is removed, a blood clot will form within its empty socket to protect the vulnerable tissues inside. If this blood clot is dislodged or if it fails to form, nerves and bone structure can be exposed to the oral environment, resulting in a severely painful condition called dry socket. A common reason for this to occur is if the patient drinks through a straw too soon after the extraction. Drawing liquid through a straw requires a sucking motion within the mouth, and the resulting frequent shifts of pressure can pull this important blood clot out of place.
How Can I Tell If I Have Dry Socket?
Dry socket can include the following symptoms:
- The onset of severe pain within a few days of tooth extraction.
- Pain spreading from the empty socket to the ear, eye, temple, or neck on the same side of the face.
- The socket appearing empty due to the loss of all or some of the blood clot.
- Bone visible through the socket.
- Bad breath.
- A foul taste in the mouth.
How Can Dry Socket Be Prevented?
Luckily, dry socket is easy to prevent if you follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions. Avoid eating anything hard, sticky, chewy, spicy, or acidic for a few days after the procedure, and take care to chew on the side that did not receive the extraction. Steer clear of straws along with sugary, alcoholic, or caffeinated beverages. Enjoy soft foods and plenty of water instead. Tobacco is always horrible for your oral health, but it’s especially important to abstain from smoking or chewing it if you’ve recently had an extraction, as these activities will disrupt the healing process.
It’s also important to take care of the surgical area to make sure it heals smoothly. Be sure not to brush or floss within the extraction site for at least a day after the procedure and do so gently when you resume these habits. After twenty-four hours, you can help keep the site clean by rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash. Also take care to avoid strenuous physical activity, as the increased blood pressure can disrupt the healing process.
Dry socket is a miserable but easily preventable condition. Following your dentist’s aftercare instructions after extraction is the best way to keep your healing process going smoothly.
About the Practice
Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery provides for patients’ oral surgery needs from locations in Alexandria, Reston, and Burke, VA. Led by Drs. Amir Naimi, Pedram Yaghmai, Amro Shihabi, and Hadi Ansari, the staff provides compassionate care in a welcoming and comforting environment. Areas of expertise include dental implant services, restorative treatments, and tooth extractions. For more information on preventing dry socket, contact the practice online.