Dry socket

I didn’t have dry socket but I thought I did- turns out 6 fragments of tooth broke off and got squashed into the gum. They say these can work their way out painlessly, unfortunately my body decided they were an infection and they had to be cut out. The dentist said I would be uncomfortable after the procedure but I felt better than I had in those three weeks since the wisdom removal (agony) Had the second set of wisdoms out and the recovery was so
much better than the first. I think if they stitch and pack the likelihood of dry socket is much less. Fingers crossed for you 🤞

If it hasn’t clotted your mouth would be filling with blood. No blood then it has clotted.

My advice is don’t worry about it until it happens. It probably won’t if you follow the instructions given.

i had many (a lot) of teeth out over the years including a wisdom tooth due to damage caused to me as a foetus due to medical treatment my mum had to have when she was pregnant with me.

iv only ever had it once (not with wisdom tooth though) It was absolutely horrible up with the worst pain I’ve experienced. I remember driving my face in to the mattress hoping it would ease and I’m good with pain as it’s a part of my other disabilities! but it’s not massively common as far as the dentist told me. The pain reduced very significantly once I had the packing put in though so if it does happen hopefully at least that’s a comfort!

Nope. Literally just got to bite on the cotton wool before letting me check stopped bleeding then go home. But with cotton wool sheets to bite on if necessary but didn't need them. Might be worth giving your dentist or in my case the hospital as I didn't have packing. Just tried to eat on other side once I could open my mouth to eat more than just Porridge lol

I had dry socket once - was terrified the next time I had an extraction - so the dentist put a few stitches in and it was fine

Hi I had my wisdom tooth out last year and although they had to splinter the tooth to remove, i was stitched the same. i was lucky not to develop a dry socket.(I knew this due to no hole and healing well) Yes the pain during recovery was tough but I think this was down to the muscle being stretched. i stuck to soft foods, painkillers a muscle numbing gel on my cheek and cold compress. Recovery was a week. You're be fine. Do not use a straw or touch the area.

It’s sounds like you have had an haemostatic fabric-like product (Kaltostat) placed in the socket prior to stitching. Known in the trade as belt and braces. It helps clotting and provides a good environment for healing.

Stick to the instructions, using hot salt water to bathe the socket, avoid swishing vigorously as this is more likely to wash the clot out. Just hold the hot water in the area. Salt water is probably the most effective mouthwash. And don’t repeat too frequently.
Avoid smoking.
Try not to drink or eat anything too hot or too cold. It can cause the clot to come away as the capillary bed expands or contracts.
And don’t poke around or play with it with your tongue.

It will start to look pretty grim over the next 48hrs but the pain will be improving this is normal. Dry sockets are very very painful, don’t respond to painkillers and probably more painful than the original tooth ache. So you will know if it starts to improve but them becomes worse again after a couple of days it is likely that you are developing a dry socket.

Antibiotics are of little use since it is not strictly speaking due to infection but the result of the lost clot exposing the bony surface of the tooth socket. The bodies activates a massive inflammatory reaction to speed up the healing process to quickly cover the bone with granulation tissue. Huge amounts of inflammatory chemicals summon large numbers of white cells to stop infection entering the bone.
A visit to the dentist to have the socket dressed usually alleviate s the pain rapidly.

I've read so many horror stories about dry socket, apparently it's the most painful thing ever

This is why I didn't even realise I had dry socket at first! I was still in pain 5 days after the extraction but painkillers helped so I thought it couldn't be dry socket. I finally went back to the dentist on day 7 and when they said what it was, I was like, are you sure?!

You're doing everything right so chances are you'll be fine but if you are unlucky enough to get it, it might not even be that bad.

In fact the weird clove taste was the worst bit!

I had dry socket it wasn't pleasant but not the worst pain ever and I'm a bit of a wuss. Keep on the soup and shake for a little longer as a precaution.

Will the clot not form under the gauze? So you wouldn't be able to see it? If it heals over the gauze then that won't be able to come out. I wouldn't worry too much because as I said above- you would know if you had it. I was in so much pain that I couldn't do anything, and I would say I have a "high pain threshold" if that exists.

Op I had three teeth out last week under sedation and I haven't even had to take a pain killer. Just keep your mouth clean as possible over the next coming days and don't poke at the hole with your tongue.

I was terrified of this and have had two teeth out recently without problems. The risk of getting it is relatively low, especially if you don't smoke or use a straw.

Awww OP I had a tooth removed in January and was absolutely terrified of getting dry socket too. I stayed up all night the first night just to keep checking a clot was forming, silly i know!
I just had soup for first few days and was extremely careful brushing teeth for the first week to 10 days, letting the toothpaste just dribble out rather than spit etc, anything to be as careful as I could.
I didnt get dry socket, but I remember counting down the days until the soxket had healed over. Fingers crossed for a smooth recovery for you 🤞 xx

Definitely don’t use a straw

No sucking on anything, no poking about at it with your tongue, don’t be too vigorous with the salt water rinsing. Basically leave it alone as much as you can.

I may be wrong, but if it's stitched, dry socket seems very unlikely? It sounds like they've dressed it too, which I think acts in place of a blood clot, or perhaps keeps the blood clot in? I don't suppose you'll get it. I had a big molar tooth out, no dressing or stitching. I followed instructions to the letter, avoiding eating in that place, only very gentle swilling etc, and avoided dry socket. I've had it before, as was not careful that time, and I was very keen to avoid it this time!

Apparently I don’t clot very well. I follow the advice everytime, but to no avail.

I've had only one tooth out and due to a bleeding disorder I got dry socket. You wokld know if you had it - I wouldn't worry too much. My advice is don't poke the socket with your tongue no matter how tempting. For about a week. Don't use a straw thinking that it will be easier to drink, as that's what dislodged my clot - it created pressure that sucked it out. There is probably some gauze with clove oil in the wound which will be helping to numb it. When I had to go back as the pain was unbearable from the dry socket that's what they packed into my gum. After that I stuck to warm soup for about a week just in case.

I got dry socket after following ALL the advice. Wasn't pleasant. They packed it with something soaked in clove oil which tasted rank but did the job and another round of stronger antibiotics