How to Avoid Getting Dry Socket

When getting your wisdom teeth pulled or cut out, getting dry socket is a very painful side effect that can occur if proper care is not taken. If you ask most people about having their wisdom teeth removed, many will shudder as they recall their experience with dry socket. When dry socket occurs, as gross a this may sound, it is because proper clotting did not take place or was irritated and disturbed. The absence of the blood clot will expose the bone in the jaw that can cause excruciating pain that requires the assistance of your dentist.

Things You'll Need

• patience
• dentist instructions
• gauze
• tea bag
• warm salt water

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Instructions

• 1

  The most important thing to remember after having your wisdom teeth removed is to follow the dentist's instructions carefully. Right after surgery, you will be told to bite firmly down on the rolled up gauze that is placed over the extraction site. The pressure will help stop the bleeding. Changing of the gauze needs to be done every hour or so, but be careful not to change it too often.

• 2

  To help with clotting, you can take a used tea bag and bite down on it instead of the gauze. The tannic acid in the tea bag is supposed to be good for helping clots form.

• 3

  Once bleeding has pretty much stopped, which could be that same day or the next, you do not have to bite down on the gauze or tea bag anymore. You will now want to softly gargle warm salt water a couple of times a day. You can just pour about 1 tsp of salt in a cup of warm water.

• 4

  The next few days will be crucial when eating and drinking. Do NOT eat anything that requires a lot of chewing and absolutely NO STRAWS. The sucking will cause the clot to dislodge. Also avoid foods that are grainy, crunchy, have small pieces, or are very citric. In other words, stick with soft foods and eat shakes with spoons. Also avoid alcohol and carbonated drinks for the first three days.

• 5

  One last thing to remember is that when brushing your teeth very gently, avoid the surgical site and do not swish water vigorously in your mouth. Also, spit the water out softly. The key is to keep the clot in place.