The tooth is one essential part of the human body. Severe complications can occur when it is impacted by decay or damaged by physical injuries. Dental hygiene is a practice that is very important in our daily lives. Failure to properly care of them can result in painful oral problems.
A lot of people have one or more reason to visit the dentist for different tooth extraction procedures. Luckily, it went well. After extraction, Most people have had sleep night trying to get an answer; “when can i stop worrying about dry socket, when can i stop worrying about a dry socket, how long do i have to worry about dry socket”.
Usually, after getting your tooth extracted, it is accompanied with some discomfort once the anesthesia fades away. In most cases, your dentist would prescribe a pain killer to ease your pain. Also, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent newly vulnerable bony socket (is the alveolar bone ridge that holds a tooth) from infection.
Usually, following proper tooth extraction aftercare instructions, there should be minimal pain and also healing should take place as usual.
However, if you notice that pains are increasing or perhaps getting worse as the day passes; then you may have developed a condition referred to as “Dry Socket.” In this article, keep reading as you discover what usually takes place after a tooth is extracted and treat method.
What is Dry Socket?
It is also known to as (alveolar osteitis), is a problem that occurs after you have had your tooth extracted. It is a condition which develops over a few periods of days after the extraction of a tooth (typically wisdom tooth)
How Does Dry Socket Happen?
This conditions usually would occur when there’s an interference with the blood clot.
This condition is usually painful and comes with a foul odor. The formation of dry socket occurs either when a blood clot fails to form in the socket or the blood clot was formed but was lost and dislodged from the socket.
Dry socket pain does not occur immediately after the tooth removal. Pains and discomfort usually start on the 3rd or 5th day after extraction and can spread out from the region.
Also, an individual can have ear pain if perhaps the teeth which were removed are from the lower back part of the mouth. A dry socket can last for weeks.
Factors that can interfere with blood clot; are:
- An increased bone density could interfere with the formation of the blood clot.
- Exposure to nicotine (in smokers) can lessen the supply of blood in the new socket.
- Some mechanical actions, such as sucking through a straw, forceful spitting, etc.
- Infection in the mouth.
The Following Categories Of People Are Prone To suffer This Condition after Tooth Removal & Causes:
- People whose wisdom teeth have been extracted.
- People who use corticosteroids
- People who make use oral contraceptives
- Individuals who encountered serious tooth extraction or surgery trauma
- Individuals who do not follow proper oral hygiene
- Smokers or perhaps tobacco users
- Individuals with gum or tooth infection
- People who have previously experienced dry socket
- Aged people are also at more risk of dry socket
- Location of the tooth
Although dry socket can be extremely painful, the Good news is that it can be treated with ease.
Dry Socket Symptoms
You may be concerned and worried if any of these following symptoms takes place after extracting your tooth. They are;
- Four smell coming from the month
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Slight fever
- Acute pain after extraction
- Swollen lymph nodes around neck or jaw
- Visible bone in the socket which is usually painful to touch
- Jaw pain
- Loss of appetite
- Radiating pain from the socket to your eye or ear.
What Happens After An Extraction?
After extraction, to stop bleeding (Hemostasis), cotton gauze is placed by the dentist over the extraction site, and then you are asked to bite it firmly. Sometimes a few stitches are placed to close gum edges.
Clotting is formed in the socket once the bleeding stops. This clot protects the exposed cavity, thereby covering the bone and gum (soft tissue) which will develop over the socket. Do not irritate this site too much; so your blood clot can form.
You must keep your mouth clean as much as you can while it’s healing. Try to consume foods like yogurt, soups after surgery. Afterward, ensure you rinse your mouth with a salt solution all through the day. After a few months, your gum should be healed, and you can carry on your daily activities as usual.
When Can I Stop Worrying About Dry Socket?
Dry socket can last anywhere from 5 to 10 days. However, if you passed the first week of the extraction without the usual symptoms or pain; then you are safe worry less.
It is recommended you take all preventive measure in the first 24 hours of your extraction to avoid worrying about Dry socket.
You can worry less following post-extraction instructions like; avoiding forceful spitting, avoid smoking, don’t suck through a straw, avoid consumption of carbonated or alcoholic beverages.
Also, you need to keep your tongue and fingers away from the extraction site. Apply an ice pack to your jaw during the first 24-hours following extraction. Do not rinse your mouth within 24-hours of surgery and after 24-hours, be sure to rinse gently.
How Is Dry Socket Treated?
Drugs and treatments for dry socket are primarily intended to lessening the pain and other symptoms associated. However, it won’t fasten the healing process. Proper Diagnoses of this condition is essential so as not to confuse it with several other dental issues such as root canal problems. Total healing typically takes from 10 to 14 days. Some of the dry socket treatment methods are;
- Cleaning the socket: Your dentist removes the food particles or debris collected in the socket by flushing it out.
- Medicated dressings: Your dentist will pack the socket with medicated dressings. These medicated dressings need to be changed often, although that depends on the seriousness of the tooth pain.
- Pain killers: Depending on your pain; your dentist will place you on pain killers. If Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications are unsuccessful, the dentist might prescribe a stronger pain reliever for you.
- Self-care: Your dentist may train you on how to clean your socket by using mouthwash, plastic syringe, water and salt solutions, etc.
You can get relieved within a few hours of starting the treatment; as days pass, the pain will start to disappear, and the wound will heal.
Conclusion.
Dry socket can lead to restless days as well as sleepless nights. Therefore, it’s better to prevent the formation of dry socket. The occurrence of this condition can be cut down by taking proper precautions both by the dentist and the patient and then you can stop worrying about a dry socket