6 signs you might have painful dental conditions

After you have had a tooth extraction, a blood clot will form over the bone. This is part of the healing process and it will occur rather quickly. Because the wound is fresh, the clot is still soft and can rather easily be dislodged. When it is moved out of place, even partially, it is possible for a dry socket to occur. 

About Dry Sockets

One of the main symptoms of a dry socket, which is also called alveolar osteitis, is going to be a pain. This is apt to be felt a couple of days after the extraction, and it can produce a considerable amount of discomfort. Since the clot no longer covers the cavity in the absence of the tooth, the bone and nerves are exposed. 

Exposure to the air creates pain because food, liquids, and air can get into the space left by the tooth and will irritate the exposed nerves and bone. This condition can occur after a tooth is extracted, but it is most likely to occur after a wisdom tooth extraction. Once the pain starts, it is doubtful that any over-the-counter medication will reduce the pain enough to be tolerable.

The Problem

Besides being very painful, a dry socket also has other potential problems. Food can become trapped in the socket, which will lead to severe pain by itself, but it can also lead to an infection. The danger is that the infection can get into the bone and spread.

Dry Socket Symptoms

If you have the following symptoms, you most likely have a dry socket. They include:

• Severe pain at the site of the extraction – there will be no doubt about the pain
• Loss of the dental blood clot – either completely or partially
• The bone will be visible in the socket
• An unpleasant taste 
• Pain that radiates from the socket to your ear, eye, temple, or neck
• Bad breath

Most people do not ever get a dry socket. Only 2-5 percent of people will ever have one, but it is a little more common with wisdom tooth extractions. 

Treatment for Dry Socket

When a dry socket occurs, you have a choice. You can try to bear it for the duration. It will normally last for about five or six days. A simple and much more acceptable solution for dry socket pain relief is that you go back to the dentist for dry socket treatment. The dentist will first examine the socket and then clean it out of any food that may be in there. Afterward, the dentist will apply a medicated compress with a pain reliever in it. In most cases, it will provide relief almost instantly. 

The dentist may also recommend some dressing changes and provide some advice about it. You will likely also need a pain prescription for a few days until the wound can heal, and possibly some antibiotics. You may also be given some instruction on how to wash out the socket, along with a syringe made of plastic.

Dry Socket Prevention

There are some steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of getting a dry socket. They are as follows:

• Quit smoking – The use of tobacco slows healing because it reduces the blood flow in the gums. This also reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients in your gums, which are needed for healing.

• Limit physical activity after surgery – You want to take it easy for a couple of days after you get back home. Plan on relaxing and do not exert yourself – which could dislodge the clot.

• Avoid drinking hot or acidic liquids. The heat or acid could dissolve the clot. This includes hot tea, coffee, cocoa, and acidic drinks such as orange juice, sodas, and other fruit juices.

• Stay away from hard foods that might get stuck in the socket. This includes nuts, chips, pretzels, and other foods.

• Do not drink liquids through a straw. This action, along with slurping soup, may dislodge the clot. 

• Do not rinse your mouth vigorously.

• Stay away from alcohol and any mouthwash using alcohol.

• Continue to brush your teeth and floss, but avoid the socket area. 

• If you are a woman, you also want to ask the dentist about stopping oral contraceptives prior to the extraction. This may be necessary for about a week prior and a few days afterward. Women who are on contraceptives have an increased risk of dry socket. 

Article Source: https://www.mytoothhq.com/blog/wisdom-tooth-extraction-in-infection/