Dry socket after tooth extraction

People who have just had their tooth extracted may experience the pain due to the condition of dry socket. It is usually really painful and there are several types of treatments for reducing the pain.

Dry Socket

A socket is the cavity in a jawbone in which the root of a tooth is housed. During, the procedure of extracting the tooth, both the root of the tooth and the tooth are taken out and that is what makes the socket becomes filled with blood clots. A dry socket is a socket that evokes the pain after the tooth surgery caused by the loss or dissolving of a blood clot. A dry socket is also called alveolar osteitis and it usually causes pain and bad odor. This condition is usually caused a couple of days after the procedure, and it lasts for about 5 or 6 days. A dry socket is often referred to as dry socket after tooth extraction and in most cases it is associated with the extraction of the wisdom tooth.

Prevention

There are many ways to prevent a dry socket after a tooth extraction. The thing that dentists are advising the patients who have a dry socket after tooth extraction is to bite firmly on gauze that is placed over the extraction site. You should do that for about an hour. Give the appropriate time to the blood clot to be stored firmly in the socket and make sure that you don`t dislodge it or disrupt it. You should avoid rinsing your mouth for one whole day after the surgery. You can prevent the dry socket after tooth extraction by not smoking, but it is also advisable that you stop smoking for a couple of days before the surgery. Try avoiding the straws immediately after the tooth extraction. Avoid drinking hot liquids like soup, tea or coffee since that can prevent you from having problems with dry socket after the tooth extraction. Alcohol can also be bad for you while experiencing this condition. Various antibiotics or antibacterial mouthwash can help you in preventing this problem, but it is very important to consult a doctor about the possible treatments.

Treatment

There are various types of treatments that can be used to reduce the pain after the tooth extraction. You can use some painkillers or analgesics to control the pain temporarily. It is very important to keep the socket clean and your dentist may need to apply the dressing on it. Dry socket after tooth extraction treatment that requires changing of the dressing may include an aesthetic or an extract of clove oil. You might need to do the dressing for 5 or 6 days. You can also prevent dry socket by not using the oral contraceptives and you should consult a doctor before starting to using them again. Women tend to get this condition more than men because of the high levels of estrogen, so it is recommended for women to go for this procedure in the last days of the cycle.