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Original poster

Dry socket advice

28 replies

WhimsicalGubbins · 28/05/2022 15:53

I know the chances of an actual dentist seeing this is remote-but has anyone got any advice for treating dry socket at home?
Basically, I somehow miraculously managed to develop it on day 8 🤦🏻‍♀️ The dentist has already packed it once with their blissful brown stuff-but now it’s starting to smell funky so I want to be able to replace it myself without bothering the dentist.
I have both clove oil and Eugenol (don’t really know the difference) but I can’t figure out a safe way of packing it myself.
The internet has been NO help-every page has conflicting advice. So I was wondering if any of you had packed your own successfully-and how you actually did it?

OP posts:
MillyMollyMardy · 28/05/2022 18:10

Dentist here. We wouldn't recommend anyone packing their own socket as there is a risk of packing debris into the tooth. You are right, often the dressings we use contain Eugenol. The packing we use is to cover the exposed bone in the socket.
If you are going to try to do anything, do not put anything into the socket.

You are also not bothering us with a dry socket, the brown stuff helps and we know how painful a dry socket is.

Original poster
WhimsicalGubbins · 28/05/2022 18:29

@MillyMollyMardy the receptionists state otherwise…
got any room for another patient on your books? Lol!
and thank you for the warning, I’ll definitely avoid packing it myself then.
Can I maybe pop a few drops of Eugenol or clove oil onto the existing dressing? I completely forgot to ask my dentist if I leave the packing in or if I’m supposed to rinse it out at some point.
Pain makes me a tad forgetful

OP posts:
Littlemissprosecco · 28/05/2022 18:38

You really need to see your dentist!
until then warm salt water mouthwashes won’t do any harm!

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monicagellerbing · 28/05/2022 18:53

No advice OP but just wanted to send virtual support I had a dry socket years ago and I can honestly say it's the most pain I've ever experienced in my life. I would have happily jumped off a bridge to take the pain away! Hope you get sorted soon

Original poster
WhimsicalGubbins · 28/05/2022 18:58

@monicagellerbing gratefully received! Thank you.
You read all the horror stories but nothing prepares you does it.
Cocky me thought “I lived through a 3 day labour and an ovarian torsion, how bad could a bit of face pain be”
but they were both 16 years ago, and for the latter they give you the REALLY good drugs

OP posts:
MillyMollyMardy · 28/05/2022 19:17

@WhimsicalGubbins if there is still some brown stuff in there I would leave that alone as it's covering the exposed bone, it will gradually come out by itself.
I have not idea if a couple of drops on the dressing will help, don't pour,dab on with cotton bud, unlikely to do any harm if it's applied to the dressing.

Maybe if those receptionists had had a dry socket...

Notanotherwindow · 28/05/2022 19:45

Don't rinse it out, leave it in place as long as possible.

I have no idea how you have dry socket at 8 days, that is some shitty luck. Hopefully it will have healed sufficiently to cover the bone by the time you lose the packing.

scochran · 28/05/2022 19:52

Most awful thing I've ever had
Just go back. I can't believe we are expected to manage dry socket on paracetamol or Ibuprofen. Hope you get over it soon

Isaidnoalready · 28/05/2022 19:56

Emergency dentist?

Newmum110 · 28/05/2022 20:18

Deffo go back to the dentist, tell them you are in agony and it's urgent. I had the same thing recently no dentists open here at the weekend so I put clove oil on a cotton pad and just put it in the corner of my mouth where the socket is, it is vile but numbs the entire area to give some relief.

Original poster
WhimsicalGubbins · 28/05/2022 20:21

Lol! If they could experience it for just an hour…
Not even my dentist can work out how I got it on day 8. All was fine(ish)-complicated extraction and my gum was sliced front and back, so it’s been an Ouch situation from day 1, but the pain that woke me in the middle of the night was something else!

I don’t think it’s an emergency dentist situation. Sure it hurts like crazy, but I’m managing-so far! (This may not continue for long)
Though I do miss my Saturday night bottle of wine…..

OP posts:
amusedbush · 29/05/2022 17:23

I’m getting a tooth out for the first time ever on Tuesday and I am terrified of getting dry socket. I’ve actually moved the appointment three times because I’m so scared Blush

I hope you feel better soon!

Notanotherwindow · 30/05/2022 17:51

Is it an upper or lower tooth @amusedbush

As long as you follow guidelines like no straws, no smoking, no drinking very hot drinks, dry socket is unlikely. Apparently is is even rarer to get dry socket in an upper extraction.

amusedbush · 30/05/2022 18:00

Notanotherwindow · 30/05/2022 17:51

Is it an upper or lower tooth @amusedbush

As long as you follow guidelines like no straws, no smoking, no drinking very hot drinks, dry socket is unlikely. Apparently is is even rarer to get dry socket in an upper extraction.

It’s one of my rear lower teeth. Thank you for the reassurance though, I’ll definitely be following all advice in an effort to avoid it!

HappilyHadesBound · 30/05/2022 18:00

Notanotherwindow · 30/05/2022 17:51

Is it an upper or lower tooth @amusedbush

As long as you follow guidelines like no straws, no smoking, no drinking very hot drinks, dry socket is unlikely. Apparently is is even rarer to get dry socket in an upper extraction.

That's not helpful when she's already got it! By the way, I followed all of those rules and still managed to get it – in an upper socket.

amusedbush · 30/05/2022 18:02

HappilyHadesBound · 30/05/2022 18:00

That's not helpful when she's already got it! By the way, I followed all of those rules and still managed to get it – in an upper socket.

Show quote history

The post was aimed at me, not the OP.

And thanks, your post really helped my phobia 😅

Notanotherwindow · 30/05/2022 20:22

You'll be alright. Wear earphones so you don't hear anything during it and keep your eyes closed. It'll be over before you know it. When cleaning the teeth around it later, its easier to use a cotton bud dipped in toothpaste than trying to brush them without touching the wound.

Notanotherwindow · 30/05/2022 20:23

That was @amusedbush btw

Original poster
WhimsicalGubbins · 30/05/2022 22:48

Agghhh! Sorry! @amusedbush, my post was absolutely the last thing you wanted to see in that case!
I have to say, I have never in my life been scared if the dentist, but in Jan my dentist was all prepared to whip my tooth out (failed root canal thanks to lockdown) first molar on the bottom, and I started crying and shaking in the chair. I was MORTIFIED! I have no idea where it came from but I couldn’t go through with it-so she booked me to have it removed under conscious sedation.
That was awesome to be fair, I have absolutely no recollection of it at all but apparently I was awake and trying to talk the whole time.
I followed all the rules-maybe too carefully, because by day 4 it had started to smell (was too cautious with the rinses) so I went in to have it cleaned-after that I was much more vigorous with the salt water, and I think that that’s what gave me a dry socket by day 8. Please don’t panic about it-yes it’s awful, but the packing that the dentists puts in gives immediate relief-it’s actually magic 😂.
Make sure you ask the dentist all your questions beforehand too, I failed to do that, and I practically danced out of the surgery without a word-I was high as a kite and not really capable of speaking 😂

OP posts:
amusedbush · 30/05/2022 23:45

WhimsicalGubbins · 30/05/2022 22:48

Agghhh! Sorry! @amusedbush, my post was absolutely the last thing you wanted to see in that case!
I have to say, I have never in my life been scared if the dentist, but in Jan my dentist was all prepared to whip my tooth out (failed root canal thanks to lockdown) first molar on the bottom, and I started crying and shaking in the chair. I was MORTIFIED! I have no idea where it came from but I couldn’t go through with it-so she booked me to have it removed under conscious sedation.
That was awesome to be fair, I have absolutely no recollection of it at all but apparently I was awake and trying to talk the whole time.
I followed all the rules-maybe too carefully, because by day 4 it had started to smell (was too cautious with the rinses) so I went in to have it cleaned-after that I was much more vigorous with the salt water, and I think that that’s what gave me a dry socket by day 8. Please don’t panic about it-yes it’s awful, but the packing that the dentists puts in gives immediate relief-it’s actually magic 😂.
Make sure you ask the dentist all your questions beforehand too, I failed to do that, and I practically danced out of the surgery without a word-I was high as a kite and not really capable of speaking 😂

Oh god, there is absolutely no way I’ll be able to rinse it with salt water 🤢 I know I sound really dramatic but I’m autistic and just being at the dentist with people leaning over me, touching me, all the sounds and lights, hyperfixating on how painful my jaw feels from holding it open… it’s horrendous. The wrong taste/texture makes me vomit so salt water is out of the question ☹️

The conscious sedation sounds amazing but sadly I was offered either an 18 month wait for NHS or £300 per session to go private. Plus, if I waited for the NHS sedation, I couldn’t get the white filling I want in one tooth. Basically I’m being a big baby and I want my mum to fix it for me but, alas, I’m 32 😅

Original poster
WhimsicalGubbins · 31/05/2022 08:34

@amusedbush 18 months for the NHS? That can’t be right surely? I know Dentists are struggling with catching up thanks to lockdown, but 18 months is incredibly excessive!
Given your personal situation I would have thought you’d be a priority for it.

Even though you’re 32, there’s absolutely no harm with taking your mum with you for support, or so she can fight your corner for you. If it makes you feel any better, I accompany my mum to her appointments when I can-and she’s in her 60’s 😂 you’re never too old for moral support.

Sending you virtual hugs

OP posts:
CHiSOCG · 31/05/2022 08:37

Dry socket horrific. Don’t rinse!!! You could dislodge something that’s starting to fill it.

i feel for you OP nothing has come close to dry socket pain for me. Traumatic

amusedbush · 31/05/2022 11:27

@WhimsicalGubbins

After all that, he didn’t do the extraction. I was such a sweaty, shaky wreck when I got into the chair, he decided to do a filling on the opposite side instead. He said it would ease me back in (I’ve been procrastinating this visit Blush) and it will now be easier to eat on that side when he does the extraction.

I’m booked in to have it done in a few days time.

Original poster
WhimsicalGubbins · 31/05/2022 13:10

@amusedbush breathe easy for a few days then, and sending you lots of healing vibes for when the extraction takes place.

OP posts:
Notanotherwindow · 31/05/2022 21:55

@amusedbush At least you know he is a kind dentist. You can ask for a block to rest your jaw if you need, it's like a square bath plug that they put between your teeth so you jaw doesn't get sore from holding it open so long.

Try and practice salt water rinses as it really is important for keeping it clean so if you can learn to tolerate the taste for a few seconds it will prevent infection. Getting an infection in it honestly gives dry socket a run for it's money in the pain department. I have TN and an abcess is almost as bad as that.

If you really can't stand it, they may be able to prescribe you some mouthwash that won't harm the clot so do ask them. It'll heal quickly, 2 weeks and it'll be closed over. Look out for granulation tissue, it looks like whitish yellow gunk. It protects the blood clot so try not to disturb it.