After a tooth has been removed from your mouth, a blood clot forms to stop the bleeding. It must stay in place until your mouth has finished healing. If it becomes dislodged, or if it does not develop, then you may experience a painful condition known as dry socket. You can help avoid this and ensure proper and timely healing of the extraction site by following your dentist’s instructions. In particular, your dentist will advise you on how you can keep your mouth clean as it heals. This may involve simply rinsing for the first day or two, or it may require using a special antibacterial mouthwash.
Tips to avoid dry socket
Do not use a straw for drinking liquids for at least a week following your tooth extraction. Stick to soft foods for the first couple of days, such as mashed potatoes, plain pasta, oatmeal, and scrambled eggs. You should also stay away from soup; even inadvertent slurping can result in painful dislodging of the clot. In addition, avoid smoking or chewing tobacco. Finally, do not engage in strenuous activity and try to rest as much as possible as your mouth heals. If you have any additional questions about proper care after your tooth extraction at Innovative Implant and Oral Surgery, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
How Can You Tell if You Have Dry Socket?
It isn’t unusual to notice some swelling after you have undergone oral surgery. Ordinarily, these symptoms are minor and easy to treat. If you experience any swelling, for example, you can treat it using an ice pack. However, if you experience sudden, sharp pain — it may mean that you have developed dry socket. You may also want to try to look at the extraction site in the mirror. If you can see bone, or if the socket appears empty, then the blood clot has likely been dislodged. If this happens, call your oral surgeon right away.
Is Dry Socket Treatable?
Fortunately, it is indeed something that your oral surgeon can treat. If your blood clot has become dislodged, you will go back to your surgeon’s office, and they will rinse out the extraction site. If the pain is severe, they may anesthetize it for you. Finally, they will apply a special dressing to the site to promote healing. If you are still experiencing pain, they may prescribe an antibiotic medication to help.
We use state-of-the-art techniques
Innovative Implant and Oral Surgery has been providing exceptional services to Pennsylvania for more than 40 years. If you are looking for an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgery provider in Newtown, Feasterville, or Jenkintown, PA– we urge you to connect with us to request an appointment. We use state-of-the-art techniques, including sedation dentistry. Our practice accepts most forms of insurance, and we also offer flexible monthly payment plans to help ensure that you can get the proper treatment.