Dry Socket: What it is and Tips on How to Prevent it Following an Extraction.

When your dental professional tells you it’s time to remove your wisdom teeth or you need another tooth extracted, it’s only natural to wonder how you’ll recover after the procedure.  Often times, the removal of a tooth requires a surgical procedure, it’s a process that’s done on a daily basis by qualified professionals who know how to perform extractions safely.

It’s important to remember that there are complications that can happen after your wisdom teeth are extracted or after any tooth is extracted.  This blog talks about one such complication – a dry socket.  The good news is, you can minimize this complication by taking an active role in your post extraction healing.

What is dry socket and how does it form?

A small percentage of people develop a dry socket following the extraction of a tooth and knowing how to prevent one is key to minimizing your post-surgery discomfort.  By taking a few precautions, you can to reduce the chance of forming a dry socket.

When a tooth is pulled, a blood clot forms in the socket, or the hole in the bone that remains once the tooth is gone.  This blood clot should stay in place during the entire healing process, since it covers up your bone and sensitive nerve endings and helps to bring in cells that allow your socket to heal.  If the clot becomes dislodged, or if it dissolves too soon or if it doesn’t form, it exposes the nerve endings and bone creating a “dry socket” or alveolar osteitis. When the jawbone socket becomes inflamed it can cause extreme pain.  This discomfort can last for a week.  In other words, a dry socket is definitely something you want to avoid!  Luckily, by taking some preventive measures and monitoring your recovery, you can minimize your risk of developing a dry socket.

Tips to prevent dry socket

• Stick to Soft Foods: Be smart about what you eat after surgery. Avoid hard, chewy or hot foods, since they increase the chance of disrupting your blood clot.  It’s best to eat only soft and cold foods for 24 hours after surgery – yogurt, applesauce and ice cream are great options that won’t damage the blood clot.  Stick to semi-soft foods for the remainder of your recovery.
• Avoid Smoking: If you smoke or use tobacco, you should know that you’re more susceptible to developing a dry socket. You can dislodge your blood clot by inhaling too quickly, and the chemicals in tobacco products prevent or delay healing and can lead to infection.  It’s best to reduce your tobacco intake several weeks prior to surgery to make it easier to abstain during the recovery process.
• Avoid Drinking with a Straw: Extreme sucking can cause dislodging of the clot.
• Practice Good Oral Hygiene: A clean mouth is a healthy mouth, especially after you’ve had a major oral procedure. Good oral hygiene helps you fight off germs and prevents infections that could compromise your blood clot.  Your dental professional will give you tips on how to brush your teeth, as well as other oral care needs, following your surgery.

Be smart, even without your wisdom teeth!

Getting your wisdom teeth removed or another tooth removed isn’t fun, but it may be a necessary procedure for oral wellness and your general overall health.  Remember that taking great care of your mouth after surgery reduces your chances of developing a dry socket and minimizes any post-surgery discomfort.  Always follow the advice of your dental professional and you’ll enjoy a successful recovery from your extraction procedure.