Home | Dental Surgery | Dry Sockets |

Pain Relied and Causes of Dry Socket

Normally a tooth extraction results in a blood clot at the site of the tooth extraction. The blood clots, stops the bleeding and then acts as the groundwork for new tissue and bone to re-grow. Bleeding and clotting is essential to the healing process.

A dry socket occurs when a patient is having pain due to the loss of the blood clot thus exposing the bone to germs from the air, food etc and is associated with a foul smell and pain. This often occurs two or more days after an extraction and can last about 5-6 days. It is normal to have soreness and discomfort following an extraction. A dry socket is usually associated with wisdom teeth, but can occur on front teeth as well. We have poorer blood circulation at the back of the mouth, so this is usually where dry sockets occur. Dry socket delays the healing process. It usually takes gum tissue about 3-4 weeks to heal where as the bone can take up to six months to heal.

The loss of the blood clot can occur for various reasons. The clot can simply become dislodged to due aggressive rinsing, sudden motion, running, chomping down on food etc. People have been unlucky and simply sneezed at the wrong time and lost the clot. Your dentist will instruct you to rest and take it very easy in the critical 48 hours after the wisdom tooth extraction. You will be instructed to drink liquids only. Ignore the dental advice at your peril - a dry socket can be painful.

What are the Risk Factors for Dry Socket?

You are particularly at risk if you smoke, especially soon after the operation. Smoking will dry the mouth, and decrease the bloody supply as well as introduce toxins and heal to the fragile new tissue trying to grow.

Women should be aware that high estrogen levels also have an impact on the clotting. If you use birth control pills or have your teeth removed in the first 22 days of the menstrual cycle you are twice as likely to develop dry socket after an extraction.

It is much safer to make an appointment for an extractions during the last week of your menstrual cycle when estrogen levels are low or inactive.

Obviously, if you take birth control pills and smoke your risk is compounded.

What are the Best Natural Remedies for Dry Socket?

Natural or home remedies for dry socket are Clove oil. Use a dropper and put a couple of drops of clove oil on the sore socket, it will moisturize it and is antiseptic as well. You can do this as often as you need to. Gently rinse the mouth with sea salt in warm water 24 hours after the extraction. Make sure this is a gentle rinse, no violent swishing. The salt water acts as natural antiseptic and will help sooth the pain and heal the wound.