You may have heard of dry sockets before, but do you know exactly what they are? Dry sockets often form after you have a wisdom tooth removed, but they can form after any after any tooth is extracted. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to avoid this problem.
If you need to have a tooth extracted, we recommend paying close attention to the healing process. You see, during the healing process your body will form a blood clot in the affected area. If this clot dislodges, dissolves, or doesn’t form correctly, you could find yourself coping with a dry socket. While it can be difficult to tell why your blood clot didn’t form, infections, oral contraceptives, and smoking could all be factors.
There are a number of things you can do to prevent dry sockets from forming. For example, please refrain from exercising too vigorously while your mouth heals. You should also remember to gently rinse out your mouth after your procedure. If you swish too forcefully, you could dislodge your clot. Finally, please remember to avoid sucking through a straw and smoking.
Are you interested in scheduling an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Sula? Are you worried that you could need a tooth extraction or that you have a dry socket? If so, feel free you to contact Advantage Dentists by calling us at 281-829-5000. We’ll be happy to examine your mouth and help you decide on the best thing you can do to protect your teeth. We’re excited to receive your call!