What Is Dry Socket and How Can I Prevent It?

While most people won’t experience any complications after having their wisdom teeth or any other tooth removed, about 3% of tooth extractions lead to dry socket. This severely painful condition results when a blood clot fails to form over or is dislodged from the removed tooth’s empty socket, resulting in the nerves, bone structure, and soft tissues therein being exposed to the stresses of the oral environment. Here’s what you should know about dry socket and how you can avoid it.

What Is Dry Socket?

Dry socket, which also goes by the name of alveolar osteitis, is the empty space in the jawbone where your tooth once sat. After tooth extraction, the body builds a blood clot over the wound to protect the vulnerable structures inside. If this blood clot doesn’t form properly or is removed from the wound, the result is miserable pain and an increased likelihood that the surgical area will become infected.

How Can I Prevent Dry Socket?

Dry socket is a rare condition, and you are far less likely to experience it if you follow your oral surgeon’s aftercare instructions precisely. A few ways to prevent dry socket include:

• Practice excellent oral hygiene: Continue to brush and floss normally after having a tooth extracted, but refrain from brushing over the surgical site until your oral surgeon clears you to do so.
• Don’t spit or drink through straws: The shifting pressures that happen within the mouth when spitting or drinking through a straw can force the blood clot out of place, causing dry socket.
• Don’t smoke: Smoking is completely terrible for your oral health, and drawing smoke from a cigarette involves a sucking motion similar to that of drinking through a straw. Since nicotine also has a side effect of causing blood vessels to constrict, it can hinder your gums’ healing process and their ability to fight off infections.

What Should I Do if I Get Dry Socket?

If you have dry socket, call your dentist to book an emergency appointment and receive further instructions. You may try an over-the-counter pain reliever, but it may not be sufficiently effective. When you get to your dentist’s office, they will clean the wound and fill the socket with a medicated paste to help it heal. They may also prescribe antibiotics, pain relievers, or a special mouthwash. You can expect to return to your dentist’s office several times to have the wound redressed until it heals.

Dry socket is an unpleasant but preventable condition. By complying with your aftercare instructions, you can minimize your chances of experiencing it after tooth extraction.

About the Author

Dr. Jeffrey F. Herman earned his dental doctorate at the OU College of Dentistry and stays abreast of the latest dental methods and technologies through continuing education courses. He is proud to be a member of the Oklahoma Dental Association and has served on the board of the Oklahoma County Dental Society for more than two decades. His office in Oklahoma City, OK, offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you suspect that you have dry socket, contact his office online or dial (405) 621-2100.