A tooth Extraction becomes necessary in certain situations to ensure optimal oral health. However, a common problem with tooth extraction is dry socket, which sometimes becomes really painful. But there are ways to avoid dry socket and allow successful healing. In this blog, you will learn how to avoid a dry socket after tooth extraction.
What is Dry Socket?
The medical term for dry socket is Alveolar Osteitis. After a tooth extraction procedure, a blood clot forms in the area of the extracted tooth. This clot helps in protecting and healing the area.
A dry socket occurs when the blood clot does not form, or it falls off too soon, which exposes the bone and nerves underneath. The exposed bones and nerves cause discomfort, pain, and delayed healing. Dry socket is common in the tooth extraction procedure, especially in wisdom tooth removal.
What Does a Dry Socket Look Like?
Normally, after tooth extraction, a blood clot forms, which looks like a dark scab that covers the area of the tooth extracted. If it does not form or falls out too soon, it becomes an empty socket.
An empty socket looks like a hole in the jaw with a white layer at its bottom. The white part is the bone underneath the jaw, which leads to intense pain, sensitivity, and discomfort.
In short, after tooth extraction, you must have a blood clot rather than a bone. If you have a bone, you might have a dry socket.
Symptoms of Dry Socket
A dry socket may cause infection or serious problems or damage to the nerve and bone. Therefore, it is vital to understand the symptoms of dry socket to get prompt dental treatment. Here are the symptoms you should look out for to avoid dry socket:
- No blood clot
- Exposed bone
- Mouth or facial pain
- Nerve pain that goes from the jaw to the head and neck
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Bad breath
- Tooth or gum infection
Dry Socket Causes
There are a lot of reasons that might contribute to extraction failure or delayed healing of the socket. One of the main issues is dry socket, which happens due to:
- Hormonal birth controls that slow down healing
- Poor oral hygiene, which leads to bacterial infection in the mouth
- Smoking
- Using a straw
- Or vigorous brushing or rinsing of the mouth.
How to Avoid Dry Socket After Tooth Extraction
To avoid intense pain or delayed healing after tooth extraction, you can prevent dry socket by following these tips:
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco until healed properly
- Skip extra hot and frizzy drinks
- Avoid using straws that can create a suction in the area
- Avoid hard, chewy, or crunchy foods.
- Follow any post-procedure instructions provided by your dental expert.
All these aftercare instructions allow for easy and gradual healing of the area after tooth extraction. Also, you will feel minimal discomfort in your healing process.
When to Go to a Doctor?
If you see any of the symptoms that are delaying your healing, you should visit your dental professional at Teeth and Smile Dental Clinic in Gulberg 3, Lahore. Moreover, if you have unbearable and intense pain, you should visit your dental expert, or you can also go to the nearest hospital or clinic for emergency treatment.
The Bottom Line
Tooth Extraction brings a risk of dry socket, which leads to delayed healing, pain, discomfort, and even infection. Therefore, you should know how to avoid dry socket after tooth extraction. Avoid using a straw, too hot or too cold drinks, crunchy, chewy, or hard foods, and vigorous rinsing.
In case you still have a dry socket and unbearable pain, visit your dental care professional as soon as possible. Our dental experts at Teeth and Smile Dental clinic in Gulberg 3, Lahore, are always at your service to offer the best Tooth extraction services in town. Visit us now to get a consultation for a healthy, optimal oral health.