Dry socket - how long is it until I am safe?!


Question:

Dry socket - how long is it until I am safe?

Hi I got a lower back tooth taken out yesterday afternoon(32=-hours ago), how long will it be until I know I am safe from getting a dry socket?

Also when can I have a smoke, and hot drinks?


Answers:

I just got my top, left wisdom tooth pulled on May 2nd. I was told that dry socket usually occurs within 3-4 days, however, the longer you wait the better.

Also, bottom teeth are more at risk than top, putting you in a higher risk category for dry socket.

It's been a week for me and I'm fine. I definitely cut down on my smoking and also put a piece of wet gauze over the extraction site when I smoked. Not only did it form a barrier, but it made smoking really uncomfortable so I smoked less and craved less. Make sure it's wet though, as a dry piece can pull out the clot if you're biting down too hard. You can also wet a teabag and either place it in the gauze or use it without gauze (I preferred placing it in gauze), and place it over the extraction site. Tea contains tannic acid which promotes healing and coagulates the blood. I used green tea.

I just started to smoke sort of normally again today, although I've been very gentle.

Also, whenever you eat or smoke, it would be wise to swish warm salt water and a little bit of antiseptic mouthwash mixed in. (I use Biotene---it's alcohol-free to prevent stinging). But be gentle. Roll your head back and forth, don't swish with your mouth. Not only does smoking pose a risk from sucking, but the chemicals can cause healing time to be delayed.

Of course it's better to quit, but as a smoker, I understand how difficult that can be!

As for hot liquids, I believe the cut-off is 48 hours, however, I'd also keep it to the side of the mouth without the extraction, just to be safe. I drank some coffee on the third day---I think that was more difficult to give up than the cigs!

Hope that helped!




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