Worried about dry socket?!
Question:
Worried about dry socket?
I had a lower molar extracted yesterday, it bleed quite alot afterwards as i did have a cigarette but didn't suck hard or anything. Well i've been reading alot of stuff about dry socket and am worried that i could be developing the same thing. My socket doesn't look completely empty but its not really full either.. it has dark red spots but is mainly a whitish green colour and feels like jelly when i touch it with my tongue. I've been rinsing every two hours with salt water. I've not got much pain, just a slight soreness. Could i be developing dry socket?
Additional Details3 weeks ago
Thanks Jen.. for a quick response! i really hope its not.. i dont think i can handle anymore pain from my teeth.. this extraction was an emergency to begin with ARGHHHH lol
Answers:
Probably not, but LEAVE THE EXTRACTION SITE ALONE!!!
What you are describing sound pretty normal. If you ever get a dry socket, you will know it. I have it on goo authority that it is extremely painful.
As a former smoker, I always thought it was a waste of time to tell a smoker NOT to smoke a cigarette after a dental procedure. That stressed out and NO cigarette? No way is that gonna happen!!
Don't take deep drags on a cigarette or just tiny little repeated puffs. Moderate, gentle drags usually won't hurt you. Just don't do 1-2 packs a day that way. The more often you do it the higher your risk of problem.
Quit worrying so much about it, most extractions don't have any complications at all.