After tooth extraction, the patient may feel pain or inflammation in the empty tooth socket region.
According to research, after an extraction procedure, 1 to 5% of people get dry sockets; for wisdom tooth extraction, this number goes up to 38%.
The condition can be extremely painful and may stop you from carrying out daily activities. Hence, if you are getting a tooth extracted, it is important to learn how to heal a dry socket.
Today, we will help you find the best dry socket treatment at home to avoid any complications.
Read More: 18 Things to Avoid After Tooth Extraction in Canada
What Happens in Dry Sockets?
A dry socket or an alveolar osteitis is an emergency situation that arises after tooth extraction.
Typically, a blood clot forms in the tooth socket after extraction. The hole in the jawbone where the tooth once resided is referred to as the socket.
This blood clot serves as a protective layer for the bone and nerve. The bone and nerve remain exposed if the blood clot is moved or forms poorly.
It may happen within 2 to 7 days of a tooth extraction.
Signs of a Dry Socket
To know how to heal a dry socket, you must be able to spot its signs.
Here is what you may experience:
It's common to have soreness or discomfort following tooth extraction.
Strong, ongoing, throbbing pain that may spread to your eye or ear on the same side of your face two to four days after the tooth extraction.
Mild temperature.
Foul breath.
Unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Instead of a dark blood clot, you will see an exposed bone.
If you don't follow a dry socket treatment at home, an underlying oral infection, trauma from tooth extraction, or jawbone problems may happen.
Compared to other teeth, the lower jaw wisdom teeth are more frequently affected by the disorder.
And wisdom teeth infections are prevalent in patients.
People at Risk For Developing a Dry Socket
Other than following dry socket treatment at home, it is important to quit some habits, too.
Several risk factors that can raise your likelihood of developing a dry socket are as follows:
Smoking: The risk of developing a dry socket is more than three times higher in smokers than in non-smokers.
Utilizing a straw to drink: Blood clots can be dislodged by the suction force of drinking with a straw. After getting your tooth out, make sure you don't use straws for at least a week.
Swallowing excessively: An antimicrobial mouthwash may be prescribed by your dentist to help you maintain oral health. However, forceful swishing can loosen the clot of blood. Instead, tilt your head to the side and allow the extraction site to get soaked by the mouthwash.
Inadequate dental care: Bacterial contamination may arise from inadequate cleaning of the surgical site.
Using birth control: Estrogen, an ingredient in oral contraceptives, may obstruct your body's normal healing process.
How to Heal a Dry Socket
The goal of treating a dry socket is to lessen its symptoms, particularly its pain.
The possible course of treatment for a dry socket at home is:
Clearing the socket: To get rid of any food particles or other loose objects that can exacerbate pain or even cause an infection, your dentist or oral surgeon may flush out the socket.
Applying a medication dressing: A medicinal gel or paste and a dressing may be applied to the socket by your dentist or oral surgeon. These can offer prompt pain alleviation. The degree of your pain and other symptoms will determine if you require dressing changes, how frequently, and whether you require additional therapy.
Painkillers: Painkillers on prescription are what you'll need.
Self-cleaning: You may need to rinse the socket at-home to maintain cleanliness and promote healing after your dentist or oral surgeon removes the bandage. You can obtain a plastic syringe with a curved tip to dispense water, salt water, or a prescription rinse into the socket.
Dry Socket Treatment at Home: List of Top 9 Methods
With a dry socket treatment at home, you don't need to rush to the dentist if you suspect a minor issue.
From the following list, you can find the best at-home dry socket treatment:
1.Rinse Your Mouth Gently with Warm Saltwater
Using warm salt water to rinse your mouth is one of the best dry socket treatments at home.
This can facilitate blood clotting and assist in getting rid of any food particles that might be irritating your dry socket. Make sure you're using warm water instead of hot, as the latter may aggravate your wound even more.
After giving your mouth a quick 30-second rinse with warm salt water, spit it out.
Throughout the day, repeat this procedure as often as necessary, but preferably three times.
2.Be Careful of What Goes Into Your Mouth
It's critical to watch what you put in your mouth as the area heals if you get a dry socket.
For instance, control your urge to smoke while you're recovering.
In a similar vein, using a straw to drink causes the pressure of the straw to push out the dental implant dressing.
If you believe you have developed a dry socket following a tooth extraction, consult your dentist for care and treatment at least once.
3.Start Using Organic Oils
Numerous natural oils possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities, making them great for a dry socket treatment at home.
These are the best options you have for dental dry socket treatment at home:
Clove oil
Tea tree oil
Oregano oil
Clove Oil
Eugenol, found in clove oil, has anti-inflammatory, anti-pain, and antibacterial qualities.
To reduce discomfort and prevent infection, dab a small amount of clove oil onto a piece of clean gauze and place it over the tooth extraction region.
Note that excessive eugenol may induce blood loss in cells, which is why it's only a temporary cure.
Tea Tree Oil
You may have heard of its ability to destroy bacteria, reduce discomfort, and kill germs.
Hence, using it is a great method for a dry socket socket treatment at home to relieve pain.
You can use the same application technique mentioned for clove oil.
Oregano Oil
Strong antimicrobial oregano oil may prevent infection and lessen discomfort.
At least three times a day, apply oregano oil directly to the area where the tooth is being extracted or using gauze.
If you are using it for dry socket treatment at home, use caution while applying this natural remedy, as it may irritate the skin.
4.Reduce Swelling with Turmeric
Strong anti-inflammatory curcumin, found in turmeric, may lessen pain and aid in the healing of wounds.
For dry socket treatment at home with turmeric, mix mustard oil and turmeric into a dressing.
5.Utilize Tea Bags as Cold Compress
Tannic acid, found in black tea, has antimicrobial properties of its own and relieves pain and swelling.
Put a tea bag in a cup of boiling water and let it steep for five minutes to utilize this cure.
When it has cooled, remove it and wring out any excess water. For the tea bag to work, it needs to be cooled.
Refrigerating it instead of freezing it will enable it to function as a cold compress.
For approximately fifteen minutes, you can gently bite down on the tea bag to keep it in place.
After the fifteen minutes are over, rinse your mouth with the remaining cool tea.
6.Don’t Be Afraid of Using Honey
Honey is already popular as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment for oral health issues, including periodontal disease, mouth ulcers, and surgical wounds.
You can use it as a dry socket treatment at home, too.
Ripe nectar combined with bee enzymes in honey has antimicrobial properties.
Furthermore, as nectar is a plant secretion, honey may also contain phytochemicals.
Some of these function as antioxidants to stop the infection-induced deterioration of the tissue that surrounds teeth.
In contrast to antibiotics, honey has no side effects. Also, if you are scared that this dry socket treatment at home will cause cavities, using it in the right quantity won’t do anything.
7.Aloe Vera For Dry Socket Treatment at Home
Aloe vera gel's anti-inflammatory and germ-killing qualities may aid in the healing of wounds and dry sockets.
For calming comfort, apply aloe vera gel to sterile gauze and place it straight over the dry socket.
8.Reduce Pain with Heat and Cold Therapy
Try using cold and heat therapy if your post-tooth extraction discomfort is severe.
A cold for the first 24 hours will numb some discomfort and reduce swelling.
After that, you can apply heat by putting warm washcloths against your jaw's outside.
Never use washcloths that are too hot. Burns are never good for your gums, so avoid hot temperatures.
9.Get Over-the-Counter NSAIDs
The last dry socket treatment at home is using OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Over-the-counter NSAIDs can be helpful if you're in a lot of pain. While they won't completely cure dry sockets, they help in relieving discomfort and reducing inflammation.
NSAIDs that are typically used include naproxen and ibuprofen.
To avoid taking too much, make sure you follow the instructions on the packaging.
Pro Tip: Maintain Hydration
To promote the healing of a dry socket following tooth extraction, consume lots of clear liquids.
You can prevent nausea and other adverse effects of painkillers by drinking plenty of water.
To stay hydrated, you can sip on clear broth or simply drink water.
When to Visit a Dentist For Dry Socket
People should contact their dentist for treatment if they experience excruciating pain following tooth extraction and exhibit any signs of dry socket.
A dry socket can be identified by a dentist by visual inspection. To make sure that the symptoms are not being caused by another illness, like a bone infection, they may also take an X-ray.
A dentist will initially rinse the patient's mouth with a saline solution to get rid of any debris that might be causing pain or infection before treating the dry socket.
To relieve pain as soon as possible, they will then apply a medicinal gel or dressing to the dry socket. A dentist may recommend stronger painkillers if a patient is in unbearable pain due to a dry socket.
FAQs
Is it necessary to take antibiotics for a dry socket treatment at home?
Not every time. However, your dentist will probably recommend an antibiotic treatment if they think you have an infection.
Can a dry socket recover by itself?
Yes, a dry socket may heal on its own. However, contacting your dentist as soon as possible for treatment might help alleviate pain sooner, as most patients experience moderate to severe dry socket pain.
How long does it take for a dry socket to heal?
A dry socket will usually heal in 7 to 10 days after new tissue starts to cover the wound and show bone. Thin bones or periodontal problems can prolong the healing process.
Final Words
We hope you can take care of the dry socket before it becomes too severe by using the appropriate dry socket treatment at home.
All of the methods, including the usage of organic oils, cold and hot compresses, black tea bags, aloe vera, honey, and turmeric, improve oral health and reduce inflammation.
If you still have questions on how to heal a dry socket, you can discuss your case with the most trustworthy team of dentists in Canada.
