Dry socket

[pizzaface23]

Had a wisdom tooth out this morning and am already panicking like crazy about dry socket, I've been in pain for a long time with this tooth and now it's out (relatively pain free procedure) I'm still worried that it's going to cause me more problems!!! It was stitched as it was horizontal so there's some stitching along my bottom gum. It also looks like they've packed it with something that looks like a white strip but I don't know what that is. They did mention something to help with clotting but I was a bit out of it at that point.

I've read so many horror stories about dry socket, apparently it's the most painful thing ever. I'm following advice - liquid meals, salt water rinses tomorrow when 24 hours have passed, no smoking or alcohol. Is there anything else at all I can possibly do to ensure I don't get this? And if you've had it at what point during recovery did it happen? How did you cope? If I can get past say day 5 will I be in the clear? I'm just so sick of being in pain and worrying about being in pain. I haven't been able to go about normal life for weeks.

I get dry socket every time I have a tooth out. The last one I had to go and have packed every day for 5 days.
It’s painful but honestly I didn’t find it that bad. No worse than a deep tooth ache. That said, I have a strangely odd response to pain and don’t tend to feel things the same as other people, so maybe I’m not the best to answer!

Is it just some thing you're prone to or don't you follow the advice? It seems like bad luck to get it every single time.

You're doing all you can to prevent it, so don't worry. If it does start to hurt just go straight back to dentist. You've made the right decision to get rid of a problem wisdom. They're such pointless teeth! I'm probably having mine electively removed. The top one dropped out like a baby tooth the other month! I was delighted, lol.

I had dry socket and they saw me again straightaway and packed it with something and the relief was instant - I might be going mad but someone said it was horse hair?? X

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

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.

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

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!

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.

Definitely don’t use a straw

I did think this. I actually googled if you can get dry socket with stitches and it said it's possible. I can't see any clotting at the moment but that's because the white strip is in the way. Hopefully that will help.

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

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.

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'm still not seeing any blood clots. All I can see is stitches and then the weird white stuff they packed it with. Presuming that will fall out at some point and then what'll be left?

It's so odd, not what I expected at all. The pain is fine so I'm presuming all is ok at the moment regarding dry socket. I feel able to eat soft food but I'm still worried about dry socket and not sure if I should just be on liquids. I have a macaroni cheese that I feel I could tackle but not sure if I should 🙈

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.

That makes sense. It's just a bit weird. If it's packed I'm guessing I'm ok to have a bit more variety of food? I've been avoiding anything other than liquid as I've been scared of debris getting stuck in the wound but if it's packed that shouldn't be the case should it? I'll still stick to soft things as I'm sore but also bloody starving and soup and protein shakes are no longer cutting it!

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.

In fact the weird clove taste was the worst bit!

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.

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.

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.

They splintered mine too. I also had the tooth next to it out too. Did they pack yours with anything? It's hard to know if it's clotting because I can't see beneath the white packing. I'm not sure if this stuff will dissolve or fall out.

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

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