Dry socket help?

Question

I had my upper left wisdom tooth pulled today. Didn't even know about dry socket so I just have a few questions.
Will I know if the clot falls out?
What time frame after extraction does that usually happen?

Thanks

So, if I look at the area and see a reddish-black color, I should be good? Thanks so much!

Answer 1

We typically say that you should be careful for the first 24 hours after an extraction, sometimes longer if it was surgical or difficult. Do avoid hot drinks and carbonated sodas. Also no excessive activity or exercise that can increase your blood flow. No drinking from a straw or smoking, the sucking type action can cause the clot to break loose. If you do smoke (we know some of you are going to anyway) keep the socket covered with a few pieces of moistened gauze that was given to you earlier and keep your teeth together protecting the extraction site.

A dry socket is an extraction site that has lost it's clot, leaving the bone exposed to the elements of saliva and bacteria in the mouth. It is well know due to the extreme pain associated with it. If you develop one it won't go unnoticed, trust me. I've seen grown men cry due to having one. Most people consider the dentist as their best friend when they have one of these, because he's the only one who can relieve the pain! The treatment for one is to stimulate the tissue to bleed to cleanse the area and cause another clot to form, then the socket is packed off with a medicated material that aids in the clots development.

The second day you can resume normal activity and diet with the exclusion of hard crunchy food, and gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times a day. Also exercise your jaw by opening and closing your mouth, stretching the jaw muscle to reduce the pain and soreness associated with the extraction procedure. Hope I've been of some help in answering your question. If you follow your post op instructions, you'll do just fine. By tomorrow you'll be out of the woods, just do the exercises and rinse several times and you will be back to normal before you know it. Good luck!

In response to your last comment: Yes, reddish black, then white grey in color as the socket fills in and new tissue is formed. You should only be concerned if you have pus drainage, swelling and a fever in the area. I think you're in the clear as far as a dry socket goes though. Hope I've helped.

Answer 2

Don't swish out your mouth for the first 24 hours no matter how much you may want to. Doing so will wash off the blood clot that actually helps heal the wound. If you do (or did) you will know if you have a dry socket because your mouth will taste bad even to you, your tooth hole will hurt more than it does now. This happens within two days. If this happens, call your dentist and (s)he will presribe an antibiotic. A dry socket is an infection. The mouth has a good way of healing iteslf when wounded as in having a tooth pulled or accidentally biting your cheek. Good luck - now go baby yourself. Getting a tooth pulled is no picnic.

Answer 3

I smoked five minutes after getting my wisdom teeth pulled. I never got dry socket. Dry socket is rare. It's like side effects posted on medications. you normally don't have any major ones. It's just a possibility.

Answer 4

You may not know if the clot falls out before it is suppose to but some things to be aware of..........don't suck on straws, don't smoke.
Both things cause negative pressure in your mouth and will cause the clot to dislodge.
As long as you follow those rules, you should be fine.

A dry socket is very painful though. You will be out of the woods for one after it starts healing. About a week or so.

Answer 5

If you are going to have dry socket it will usually happen 3 to 5 days after you have the tooth removed. As long as you are taking care of yourself and doing what they dr or assistant told you you should be fine. I had all for taken out on a friday afternoon and was back to work tuesday morning. IT's not really bad at all

Answer 6

well you really need to remember to keep gause on it because if you don't then you will get a dry socket. You need to just be careful and don't do anything you aren't supposed to do like use a drinking straw because you an remove the socket.

You will just feel extreme pain in about a week.

after the week you are in the clear.