Tooth Extraction Aftercare: Here's How to Prevent Dry Socket

There are plenty of reasons why you might need a tooth extraction, and at New York Dental Health PC, we do all we can to prevent it. There’s no tooth replacement system that performs better than your natural tooth. 

However, damage and decay sometimes make extractions necessary. Commonly called “pulling” a tooth, this procedure removes both the visible part of a tooth, the crown, and the root, which resides in the bone of your jaw. 

The importance of a post-extraction blood clot

Naturally, this leaves a wound in your mouth, over the socket where the tooth had been. When healing proceeds as it should, a blood clot forms over the socket. This clot protects the exposed bone of your jaw as well as nerve endings in the base of the socket. 

The clot also provides many of the raw material cells necessary for healing. The formation and protection of this clot is an important part of the recovery process after a tooth extraction. 

When there’s no clot

Sometimes, proper clots don’t form, but more commonly they become dislodged or fall out. Without a blood clot, you develop a condition called dry socket. 

With the exposed bone and nerve endings, dry socket can be extremely painful. It delays the recovery process and extends the length of time you’re in pain, which is typically too severe to be controlled with over-the-counter pain medication. 

You can’t always prevent dry socket, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk of dislodging a clot. 

Four tips for preventing dry socket

You can protect your post-extraction blood clot by following these four suggestions. 

Care for your extraction socket

We recommend gentle saltwater rinses several times a day to keep the area around the clot clean and free of bacteria. Avoid brushing on the day of your extraction, but resume gentle brushing the next day. Avoid directly brushing the extraction socket. 

Choose soft foods

Select foods like applesauce, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, or yogurt in the first 24-36 hours after your procedure. Slowly add firmer foods back into your diet after that. 

Avoid soup because the slurping and suction typically used to eat it could disturb or dislodge the clot. This is also the reason why you should not use straws during your extraction recovery. 

Avoid smoking and tobacco

Smokers are three times more likely to develop dry socket than nonsmokers. If you smoke, take a break or substitute nicotine patches for a minimum of 48 hours after extraction. When you resume, inhale gently to avoid moving the clot. 

Discuss your medications before extraction

Some medications can interfere with blood clot formation, including birth control pills. Talk to our team about the drugs you take daily so we can suggest strategies for preventing dry socket. 

While a tooth extraction is rarely fun, it’s generally well-tolerated by patients who maintain an intact blood clot in the extraction socket. 

Call or click to book a consultation with the dental extraction specialists at New York Dental Health at the nearest of our seven offices today.