dry sockets?

Question

Hi,
I had my wisdom teeth on the top both sides and 2 on the bottom taken out i've beeen taking care of them and on the bottom the stiches are in place but i looked and where the teeth where they look like redish pink is that normal? My teeth are not bleeding at all. My tongue is sore from the numbing but i'm worried.
Please help.

Answer 1

A dry socket is:

Any socket in which a patient is having pain due to the loss of the blood clot thus exposing the bone to air, food, and fluids along with an offensive odor. 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.


However, pain should be lessening by the second day.

This condition exist when a blood clot is dislodged from the surgery site thus exposing the bone and fine nerve endings. The blood clot helps in the stopping of bleeding and lays the foundation or framework for new tissue and bone to develop over a two-month healing process. This condition is more common in the mandibular area and in back teeth due to poorer circulation in this area, with wisdom teeth being the most common site. 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.

This condition is most often found:

In individuals who smoke before their recommended time. Smoking: decreases healing, decrease blood supply to the protective blood clot, brings toxic products to the area, injuries the gum tissue and the negative pressure of sucking removes the blood clot from the surgery site.

If you do not care for your extraction site as instructed by staff.

Not following your home care instruction.

Sucking action from smoking, sneezing, coughing, spitting or sucking, within the first 24 hours.

Women taking oral contraceptives are more susceptible.


Prevention of dry socket:

Women who use birth control pills or have their teeth removed in the first 22 days of the menstrual cycle are twice as likely to develop dry socket after an extraction. Schedule extractions during the last week of your menstrual cycle (days 23 through 28) ** when estrogen levels are low or inactive.

Avoid drinking through a straw

Avoid smoking, it contaminates the extraction site

Avoid excessive mouth rinsing, it interferes with blood clotting

Keeping food from impacting in this area. Chew on the other side of your mouth and gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water after the first 24 hours.

Answer 2

As everyone else said, you are probably ok. If you had a dry socket, you would know it , because the pain would be so bad you would want to die!! I worked a dentist office and I saw I tough grown man with a dry socket sit in our office and cry like a baby because of the pain. As everyone else suggested, rinse your mouth with warm salt water, but don't swoosh it in your mouth roughly because you could loosen the blood clot! Also some other helpful advice, for the next 48 hours, don't drink through a straw or smoke because the sucking could loosen the blood clot, and stay away from dairy products. Something in dairy products can cause infection. but with all this said, if you are worried about the pain, then call your dentist just to reassure yourself that everything is ok, it is always better to be safe than sorry!

Answer 3

Oh man I don't envy you. What you gotta do is go and buy some clove roots, at any grocery store, and put one in the spot your wisdom tooth used to be, and you'll be amazed. I take it this hasn't happened to you yet, because you don't mention pain, and with dry socket, you would not be on here typing that's for sure. Dry socket comes when you suck on something and the clot of blood in the socket comes out, exposing extremely sensitive nerves, causing incredible pain. Avoid sucking motions with your mouth, like drinking from a straw, or smoking a cigarette. This usually happens a couple days after the extraction.. The tender pink tissue is normal, yes, and it will all settle down in time. But this is by far one of the worst experiences people must go through...you have my sympathy. And get those clove roots. You'll need em.

Answer 4

You're fine. If you had a dry socket, you would be in the WORST pain you could imagine. Just rinse gently with warm salt water to promote healing. Never use anything with hydrogen peroxide--it will destroy the new tissue growth. Keep your toothbrush away from the extraction sites. I've had a dry socket when I had my wisdom teeth out years ago. HORRIBLE.

Answer 5

Warm saline (salt and water) would be a great mouth rinse after a few days.This will help with the healing faster. Stop worring and do not distrub the healing process by playing around the area with your tongue.

Answer 6

Doesn't sound like a dry socket to me (which is a secondary infection due to clot dislodgement early-on) because you'd be experiencing dire pain. Color changes are normal; think of it as a scab that's always wet. Wouldn't you expect it to look pinkish gray for quite a while? -DDS