Preventing Painful Dry Socket After a Tooth Extraction

You may need a tooth extracted due to damage or decay. Or, you may need wisdom teeth removed. Either way, you need to know more about your risks of painful dry socket symptoms after your procedure, and what you can do to prevent dry socket.

Board-certified dentist Dr. Thomas Eaton advises new and existing patients from around the Ione, California area on restorative dentistry needs, including post-extraction oral care. Here are Dr. Eaton’s top tips for dry socket prevention after a tooth extraction.

Paying attention to post-extraction care

In general, tooth extractions are a safe and effective procedure. One of the few complications you need to be aware of is alveolar osteitis, more commonly known as dry socket.

This issue can affect the empty socket that’s left behind in your gum after the tooth removal. That’s why you need to pay attention to dry socket prevention once your tooth extraction is complete. You’re at most risk for dry socket in the first few days after your procedure.

After a tooth extraction, your body creates a protective blood clot to shield your jawbone and underlying nerves. Without that blood clot, your bone and nerves may be exposed, resulting in extreme pain. If you develop dry socket, the blood clot may not form properly in the first place, or may become dislodged before healing is complete.

Dry socket can also cause bad breath, or an unpleasant taste in your mouth. The common term for the condition comes from the sensation of dryness that often occurs. Developing dry socket often lengthens your overall healing process. You don’t want this to happen to you.

Dos and don’ts for dry socket prevention

Dry socket prevention comes down to some key dos and don’ts. Pay attention to these instructions, and you’ll heal without this common complication.

What to do after tooth extraction

Following your post-operative instructions carefully increases your chances of a smooth, quick recovery. Our instructions include essential information about how to prevent infection, manage pain, and heal properly.

Plan on soft foods for a while after your procedure. Foods with sharp edges, like tortilla chips, can poke at or dislodge the blood clot, so opt for soups, stews, scrambled eggs, or pureed fruits or vegetables for the first few days.

It’s important to clean the extraction site regularly, in order to prevent infection and promote healing. However, given the risk of dislodging the protective blood clot over the empty socket, approach cleaning with care. Beginning the day after the extraction, gently rinse your whole mouth with warm, salty water multiple times daily. When you brush your teeth, do it gently, and avoid brushing the extraction site itself.

In the days after your procedure, rest and refrain from strenuous or stressful activity, giving your body plenty of time and resources to jumpstart the healing process. Taking downtime right away may mean a shorter recovery period overall.

What not to do for dry socket prevention

You may need to adjust your lifestyle for a week or two in a few ways after your tooth extraction. These are the precautions you should take for at least 48 hours after the extraction in order to reduce your risk of dry socket.

Don’t use straws while your mouth is healing. With a soft-food diet, a straw may seem to make sense. However, straws create suction in your mouth that can move or damage the blood clot over your extraction site.

You also need to avoid smoking to reduce your risk of dry socket. Nicotine affects your blood’s clotting ability, and smoking or vaping is another way to create suction that’s likely to dislodge a healing blood clot. Talk to Dr. Eaton and the Thomas Eaton, DDS team about smoking cessation support.

Don’t let dry socket cause you pain. Follow these dos and don’ts, and you’ll heal more quickly and easily.

For customized advice on tooth extraction aftercare, contact Thomas Eaton, DDS online or over the phone today.