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Wisdom Tooth Removal: Expert Tips for Preventing Dry Socket
Having your wisdom teeth removed is something of a rite of passage. Once you and Dr. Cannon agree that oral surgery is the right course of action, your thoughts should turn to easing the recovery process.
The team at Cannon Oral Surgery is passionate about providing the most relevant and up-to-date information to our patients. When recovering from wisdom tooth removal, Chattanooga, Tennessee, residents can take steps to reduce their risk of complications, including dry socket.
What is dry socke,t and why is it such a big deal?
Dry socket is the term for a condition that can develop after a tooth is extracted. The best way to understand dry socket is to think about how your body normally heals after tooth extraction.
Once Dr. Cannon removes a tooth, a space is left in your gum tissue. This space is called a socket, and looks something like a hole or depression in your gum tissue. Shortly after an extraction, your body forms a small blood clot to protect the open socket and promote healing.
This blood clot will slowly break down as your gums heal and disintegrate within your mouth. If anything dislodges the blood clot too soon, the underlying bone can become exposed, causing serious pain and increasing your risk of infection.
What causes dry socket?
A blood clot rarely ever forms after a tooth extraction. More commonly, however, something dislodges the blood clot, leading to dry socket.
Here are some of the known risk factors:
- Hormonal birth control (slows the healing process)
- Drinking through a straw
- Smoking
- Aggressively rinsing your mouth
- Spitting
- Poor oral hygiene
- Difficult or complicated tooth extraction
As you can see, some of these factors are within your control while others are not.
What can I do to prevent dry socket?
The best way to prevent dry socket is to adhere to the post-procedure guidelines provided by Dr. Cannon. Before your wisdom tooth extraction, you’ll receive information on how to assist your body in the healing process.
If you smoke, finding a way to quit before your surgery is one of the best things you can do to aid the healing process. Not only will quitting reduce your risk of dry socket, but it will also boost your body’s ability to heal.
You should also avoid placing undue strain on the site of the wisdom tooth removal. This means carefully brushing and flossing around the area without making direct contact with the healing socket. You might be given a special mouth rinse to use as your gums heal.
Avoid drinking through a straw or spitting, both of which can create suction that can dislodge your blood clot too soon.
What should I do if I suspect I have a dry socket?
The primary sign of dry socket is significant pain at the extraction site. You might also notice a white color at the base of the socket, which is your exposed bone tissue.
If you think there’s a problem with your healing after wisdom tooth extraction, call our office right away. If an infection is present, you may need a course of antibiotics. Our team can also irrigate and clean the socket before placing a medicated dressing to assist with healing.
Having your wisdom teeth extracted can be an important step in your dental health, but proper healing is essential to the process. If you’d like more information on how to prevent dry socket or other complications after oral surgery, give our office a call to book a visit. You can also schedule an appointment at Cannon Oral Surgery using our online booking tool.