While complications following wisdom tooth extraction are uncommon, there are still a handful of patients who will experience irritations. One of the complications you may experience following the extraction of your wisdom tooth is dry socket. This painful condition can make the recovery process much more difficult and uncomfortable than you originally anticipated.
At Hendersonville Family Dental, we understand how irritating it can be to deal with complications following a dental procedure. However, with the proper education, you can avoid these easily. If you want to learn more about how to prevent dry socket after a wisdom tooth extraction and what to do if you do develop it, keep reading.
What is Dry Socket?
Dry socket is a condition that may occur after having a tooth extracted. When a tooth is removed, a blood clot forms in the extraction location. The clot acts as a protective barrier over the underlying bone and nerve endings, allowing for proper healing.
However, if the blood clot doesn’t form, comes out, dissolves, or is removed, you may develop dry socket. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms following a wisdom tooth removal, you may be experiencing dry socket:
- Severe pain in the days following the extraction
- Partial or complete loss of the blood clot at the removal site
- Pain that spreads from the extraction site to the ear, eye, temple, or neck
- Visible bone in the socket
- Persistent bad breath
- Unsavory taste in your mouth
How to Avoid Dry Sockets
There are several things you can do to avoid developing dry socket after your wisdom tooth extraction. Some of the best ways to avoid this include:
Reschedule if You’re Sick
While you may be tempted to carry out surgery while you are feeling sick, it is in your best interest to put off your extraction. Coughing, sneezing, and throwing up can dislodge your blood clot, which may lead to a much slower recovery period than you anticipate. If you are feeling sick before your surgery, reach out to your dentist and discuss rescheduling to ensure the smoothest recovery possible. During your recovery, you’ll be grateful that you chose to wait.
Don’t Use Straws
One of the most common causes of dry socket following a dental extraction is due to the use of straws. When you suck on a straw, the suction can pull the blood clot from the socket, exposing your nerves to the bacteria in your mouth. While it may be tempting to drink a smoothie through a straw, it is best to avoid these while you are in the active recovery stage of this process.
Keep the Area Clean
When preparing for your wisdom tooth extraction, your dentist will emphasize the importance of keeping the area clean before and after the extraction. After your surgery, follow all brushing techniques recommended by your dental team to avoid dislodging the clot before the area has fully healed, and reach out to them if you have any aftercare questions.
Get Rest
Rest plays a major role in your recovery process. While you may feel in high spirits following your extraction, it is best to give yourself a few days off to ensure you have plenty of time to heal. Avoid talking too much during the first 24 hours, and avoid exercising until you have attended any necessary follow-up appointments and the area has healed fully.
Eat Soft Foods
Like with many other oral surgeries, you should adopt a soft food diet after your extraction to avoid dry socket. Instead of chowing down on crunchy snacks like popcorn and chips, opt for a softer food diet of potatoes, yogurts, and applesauce. Not only will these help prevent the loss of your blood clot, but they may also be cold enough to soothe the extraction area.
Rinse the Area with a Syringe
When you schedule your extraction, your dental team will provide you with a syringe to clean the area. Once your blood clot has formed, use the syringe to gently remove food particles from the socket and surrounding area. Regularly cleaning it will prevent debris and bacteria from irritating this sensitive tissue.
Avoid Tobacco Products
The use of tobacco is known for slowing and preventing healing, especially when dealing with oral ailments. While you might not be willing to give up tobacco completely, it is best to avoid using any tobacco products while the area heals. Failing to do so may shrink blood vessels and substantially slow down your recovery.
Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated before and after your surgery is a great way to ensure your mouth is in optimal health for the extraction. Make sure to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep your mouth hydrated and guarantee your recovery process goes smoothly. It is also important to avoid carbonated, caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages while you are in the healing process.
What to Do if You Get Dry Sockets
In many cases, a dry socket should heal on its own. However, there are a few things you can do to aid in recovery. First, flush the socket with a saline solution. This flushing will ensure bacteria are removed from the area, preventing tissue infection. Next, insert medicated gauze into the socket. Finally, take some over-the-counter pain medications to ease discomfort and inflammation. However, if this pain doesn’t subside or becomes more painful, it may be in your best interest to contact your dentist for support. They can provide you with antibiotics to help prevent the spread of infection in the surgery area and surrounding tissue.
Reliable Oral Surgery in Hendersonville
If you are looking for a reliable dental team to provide oral surgery in the Hendersonville, NC, area, look no further than our team at Hendersonville Family Dental. We have years of experience providing patients across the Hendersonville area with reliable, comprehensive dental care. No matter what dental procedure you need, we are confident that our team is the perfect fit for you. If you would like to learn more about the oral surgeries we offer or you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our team today.