Following wisdom teeth extractions in Lebanon, you can expect some soreness and swelling in your mouth. As you recover over the course of a week or so, the discomfort should gradually diminish until you are able to resume your normal routine. Unfortunately, however, some individuals encounter an obstacle on their road to recovery after they get their wisdom teeth removed — a rare but painful complication known as dry socket. This article discusses what dry socket is, how you can treat it, and how you may be able to stop it from occurring in the first place.
What Is Dry Socket?
When you suffer an injury or undergo a surgery, a blood clot forms. After you get a tooth removed, the clot’s purpose is to shield the bone and nerves underneath it as your body works to heal itself. In some cases, however, the clot gets dislodged. In other cases, the clot never forms at all. When either of these scenarios occur, the condition is known as dry socket. Dry socket can be quite painful because it exposes the nerves and bones in the tooth’s socket to the outside world.
Other than pain, indicators of dry socket include:
- Persistent bad breath and an unpleasant taste in the mouth
- An empty-looking socket or visible bone at the extraction site
- A low-grade fever
- Swollen glands
- Discomfort in other areas of the face, such as the temples, ears, or jaw
Treating Dry Socket
Dry socket will not go away on its own; it is important that you seek treatment. Call your dentist or oral surgeon in Lebanon to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. They will clean out the socket with a special saline solution, which will rinse out any bacteria or food particles that might have built up in there. Then, they will dress the socket to protect it and mitigate your pain. You may need to return to the dental office after a few days to get the dressing replaced. The average recovery time for dry socket is 7 – 10 days.
Preventing Dry Socket
Dry socket is relatively rare, but that does not mean you should not take precautions to prevent it. Here are some tips to reduce your risk of socket complications:
- Do not use straws. The suction action could dislodge the blood clot.
- Do not use tobacco. Tobacco products can significantly slow down healing time. Furthermore, inhaling cigarette smoke too quickly might disturb the blood clot.
- Be careful during your oral hygiene routine. You may have to wait a full day or more before it is safe to brush your teeth. When you do resume brushing and flossing, be very gentle around the extraction site.
- Eat soft foods. Applesauce, yogurt, soup, and other soft foods have a much lower risk of unsettling the blood clot than harder foods.
Hopefully, your recovery after wisdom teeth extractions goes smoothly. However, if you suspect that you are suffering from dry socket, contact your dentist as soon as possible so you can find relief from your pain and get back on the road to recovery.
About the Author
Dr. Donald Gass is the on-staff oral surgeon at Santavicca Dental Professionals. He can perform wisdom teeth extractions and numerous other procedures. If you think that you may need to get your wisdom teeth removed, or you have questions about dry socket, contact Dr. Gass and our team at 603-643-4142.