Dry sockets after getting your teeth pulled out are no less than a nightmare. It is an extremely painful complication that must be avoided with proper aftercare. A dry socket is dangerous because its pain is nothing like what you have felt before. Let’s figure out what it actually is and the hazards associated with it.
Dry Socket – What Is It?
Your mouth has various mechanisms to heal and recover after traumatic incidents or invasive treatments. One such is having a tooth removed. During the healing process, your gums will form a proper blood clot over the hole where the tooth used to be.
That exact spot in the gums is a socket. This blood scab or a clot is to protect the tissues underneath and accentuates healing.
If accidentally the blood clot dislodges, it leaves behind an open, painful, and fresh wound. This area is then known as the dry socket and is dangerous for the nerves and bones residing. These sockets make you prone to infection, decreasing your pain threshold and prolonging healing after surgery.
Dry Socket – Causes
It is one of the most common issues that arise after tooth extraction. Symptoms include:
- Losing some or all of the blood clots from the socket.
- Intense pain in the socket, pain radiating up into other parts of the oral cavity.
- Bones visibly sticking out in the socket
- Metallic taste in mouth
- Halitosis – bad breath
Risk Factors
Some of the risk factors that make you more prone to have this issue include:
- Smoking tobacco
- Tobacco based products
- Drinking using a straw causes a suction movement in the mouth that loosens the blood scab.
- Intake of oral contraceptives causes a surge in estrogen levels that may delay the healing process.
- If bacteria manages to get around and form a tooth or gum infection, it can delay healing.
- Adequate aftercare for the wound is important. Make sure to follow the instructions of your dentist.
- You are more to have this issue again if you’ve already had a dry socket in the past.
Treatment of Dry Socket
Dry sockets are excruciatingly painful and will extend your healing time. You can expect some level of pain after getting a tooth removal; however, if it is not getting better despite the changes and precautions, talk to a dentist immediately.
Treatments that your dentist offers include:
- Thorough wound cleaning to eliminate the chances of an infection.
- Topical numbing cream for instant pain relief.
- Medicated bandages can protect the sockets.
- OTC or prescription pain medication.
- Wound cleaning 101 at home.
Final Words
A dry socket will take its due time to heal, and the area will cause pain, but that’s a given because of exposed nerves and boney structures.
Make sure that you drink lots of water following surgery to maintain the required hydration. Have soft food items, the ones your dentist allows. However, if you notice something off, contact dentists from Pasadena Oral Surgery at (281) 299-0053.