Women who take birth control pills have a higher risk of developing dry socket after wisdom teeth extraction because of their high levels of estrogen. Also, people who smoke and those with certain health conditions are also more likely to get dry sockets.
Dry Socket
If you've just had a tooth extracted, particularly a wisdom tooth, you may start to feel a nasty pain a few days after the tooth extraction. Call your doctor or dentist to see if this is dry socket, a condition that can happen when the blood clot that is supposed to form in the socket where your tooth was gets dislodged. This will interfere with healing. Also known as alveolar osteitis, dry socket can cause pain not only where the tooth was but through the jaw and radiating to your ears. Learn more about preventing and treating dry socket with expert advice from Sharecare.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 3 AnswersA dry socket sometimes occurs after a tooth is pulled. Listen as Dr. Maria Howell Lopez explains what a dentist can do to help relieve the pain.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 4 AnswersA dry socket occurs when the socket is slow to heal after an extraction. Listen as Dr. Maria Howell Lopez explains how to treat your mouth if you develop a dry socket.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 2 Answers
The most common effect of dry socket is pain in the area where the tooth has been extracted. This can lead to missing school or work. Smoking or drinking through a straw can delay the healing process. The condition is short-term, however. Consult your dentist, who can help with treatment for pain and the healing process.
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RealAge answeredSee All 2 AnswersMost illnesses do not increase the chances of having dry socket. However, if you have had or still have an infection near an extracted tooth you may be at increased risk of dry socket. You have a higher risk of getting dry socket if you've had the condition in the past. Follow your dentist's instructions after the tooth extraction to avoid experiencing this painful problem. -
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 3 AnswersDry socket is a condition that sometimes occurs after a tooth is extracted. When the socket is slow to heal, the condition can be very painful for three to five days or so.
The dentist's treatment may include cleaning the site and placing a medicated dressing in the socket, which helps provide relief of pain. The dentist may change the dressing daily until the pain diminishes and the socket begins to heal. The dentist may recommend a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or prescribe other pain relievers.
For the first few days, if you must rinse, rinse your mouth gently afterward, for pain or swelling, apply a cold cloth or an ice bag as needed. -
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 3 AnswersIf you have dry socket, you should avoid cigarette smoking or other tobacco use, as it can delay healing. You should also avoid drinking through a straw while the site heals.
Treatment may include cleaning the site of the extraction and placing a medicated dressing in the socket, which may need changed daily.
Maintain your normal oral health routine of brushing twice daily and flossing once daily, but try to avoid the area immediately next to the socket. -
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RealAge answeredDry socket may affect your quality of life by causing considerable pain. Dry socket can occur after you've had a tooth removed. Usually, this removal results in a blood clot forming over the hole that contained your tooth (the socket). This clot is important because it protects the socket until the healing process is complete. Sometimes, however, the blood clot gets washed away before the socket is healed fully. This leaves the socket exposed to air and food bits, which can be painful. Fortunately, dry socket can be easily treated and the pain relieved.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 2 Answers
Consult your dentist if you have dry socket, a painful condition that sometimes occurs after a tooth is extracted and the blood clot that forms over your socket is displaced, leaving bone and nerves exposed. Your dentist may prescribe an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 3 Answers
For dry socket, the dentist's treatment may include cleaning the site and placing a medicated dressing in the socket, which helps provide relief of pain. The dentist may change the dressing daily until the pain diminishes and the socket begins to heal. The dentist may recommend a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or prescribe other pain relievers.