When people are lined up for a tooth extraction, they are often a little less intimidated by the procedure itself than by the aftercare. Obviously, patients are going to be anesthetized and sedated for the tooth removal itself; however, when it comes the days afterward, patients are largely on their own.
You might have also heard about dry socket, a condition that can sometimes affect people who have recently had their teeth removed. If you want to know whether you could potentially have to deal with this problem, here’s some information you might find useful.
What is Dry Socket?
When you have your tooth extracted, one of the most important things is to protect the clot that forms around the extraction area. This clot protect the area underneath where the tooth once was, and all the bone and nerve tissue within.
However, under some circumstances, the clot can become dislodged from the wound. This is known as dry socket, and it can substantially delay the healing process.
How Does Dry Socket Happen?
The main reason why dry socket occurs is suction inside the mouth. Negative pressure in the mouth can cause the clot to come out of place, exposing the sensitive nerve tissue within.
In some circumstances, dry socket also occurs due to patients actively disturbing the clot, accidentally chewing on the wrong side of their mouth or playing with their wound excessively.
How to Prevent Dry Socket
Thankfully, avoiding dry socket is easy. You should be able to keep your clot in place if you adhere to the following guidelines:
- Avoid smoking and using straws for at least a week, as suction can dislodge the blood clot.
- Eat soft foods and avoid chewing near the extraction site.
- Rinse your mouth gently with salt water starting 24 hours after the extraction.
- Follow your dentist’s instructions for oral hygiene and medication.
- Keep the extraction site clean but avoid vigorous rinsing or spitting.
- Attend follow-up appointments with your dentist to ensure proper healing.
About Our Practice
At Smile More Dentistry, we put our patients at the center of everything that we do. We know that tooth extractions can be a little bit nerve-wracking for any patient, which is why we do what we can to make your procedure as comfortable as possible from beginning to end. No matter what it is that you need during the process of aftercare to feel your best, we’ll be there to help you!
If you have any questions about dry socket, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (845) 675-1512.