Dry Sockets: What to Expect and How to Manage Them

Most patients recover quickly after tooth extraction with no complications. However, some patients develop a “dry socket,” which can be intensely painful. A dry socket results from the blood clot over the extraction site being dislodged or not forming fully. When the blood clot is missing, the jawbone and nerve endings are exposed, and the socket will not heal properly.

Some pain after tooth extraction is expected, but it should be mild and easily treated with pain relievers. A dry socket causes significant pain, does not respond well to over-the-counter pain medications, and usually flares up one to four days after tooth removal.

Some people are more likely to develop a dry socket than others. If you are a smoker, drink alcohol while recovering, or take birth control pills, you are more likely to develop a dry socket. You also increase your odds if you drink through a straw, use chewing gum or smokeless tobacco, or do not properly care for your oral health following tooth extraction. To minimize your risk of dry sockets, avoid alcohol, smoking, drinking straws, and strenuous activity for the first few days after tooth extraction.

Symptoms of a Dry Socket

  • Severe pain
  • Pain that radiates to the cheek, ear, eye, temple, or other areas of the face
  • Bad breath
  • An unpleasant, often metallic, taste in the mouth
  • An empty socket or visible bone
  • A visibly swollen socket
  • Missing blood clot
  • Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold food and beverages

Managing a Dry Socket

If you believe you have a dry socket, it is crucial to call our office as soon as possible. We will arrange an appointment for an oral surgeon to see you as quickly as possible to treat your pain, restore the blood clot, and ensure there is no infection. Until you see your surgeon, the following tips can reduce your discomfort and help protect against infection:

Rinse with Warm Salt Water

Salt water reduces the risk of infection and helps eliminate harmful bacteria. Dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm (not hot) water, then gently swish around the mouth. Do not spit it out; lean over a sink and let the water drain out of your mouth. You can do this several times a day.

Apply Black Tea Bags

A boiled black tea bag is full of antibacterial polyphenols. It also helps reduce swelling and pain when cooled and placed on the extraction site. Be sure to squeeze out any excess water before applying it to the area.

Use Honey

Honey has many helpful properties for treating dry sockets. It is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic and helps prevent infection. Pour a small amount of honey on a clean gauze pad and place it over the empty socket. Change to a fresh gauze pad with new honey every hour until the pain is alleviated.

See Your Oral Surgeon

Although the above remedies may bring temporary relief, seeing your oral surgeon to treat a dry socket is essential. If you delay treatment, you may develop a serious infection. At Flushing Oral Surgery, we take all steps necessary to bring you relief and ensure you heal properly, including:

  • Gently flushing debris and bacteria from the socket.
  • Packing the socket with a dressing and medicated paste or gel. These quickly relieve pain. The packing may need to be periodically changed at our office.
  • Prescription pain medication.
  • After the packing is removed, we give our patients a syringe and instructions to gently flush out the socket at home using salt water or a prescription oral rinse.

Do not hesitate to call our office if you suspect you have a dry socket. We will suggest ways to minimize the pain and risk of infection and ensure you are seen as soon as possible.

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