Any Dentists Out There?

[WisdomToothExtractionCare]

Have had a lower wisdom tooth taken out. I'm so worried about getting dry socket. How can I avoid this?

Am not lying flat
Not eating
Not drinking hot drinks
Will start the salt rinse tomorrow as today is day 1
Have taken cocodamol
Put an ice pack on the side of my face

Is there anything else I can do? 😕

Don’t use a straw
no smoking

Not doing either of those.
Can I brush my other teeth with toothpaste?

Yes.
Gentle salt rinses tomorrow, mainly after eating to keep area clean.
Avoid smoking and alcohol.
You need to eat! Stick with a soft diet tomorrow, nothing bitty like rice, crisps, baguette.

@GG1986 yes thinking soup / yogurt tomorrow. Some things I have read have said to leave the brushing for the first 24hrs to try and avoid knocking the area.

I've just woken up and am thinking I'll
take some more painkillers. I can feel a dull kind of nervy kind of pain. I'm scared that's going to get worse...

It's hard trying to sleep on 4 pillows.

I had a wisdom tooth removed last year and didn't do any of those things, other than doing the salt rinse and taking painkillers for a couple of days. I was eating just hours afterwards, and went out for lunch and dinner the following day. You are overthinking it.

I had a back canal out last week and I was terrified too OP I think when you’ve had toothache you get so frightened of it coming back!
to be honest I haven’t done the salt rinses bhr I’ve just been really gentle with it- eating in the other side of the mouth, not swilling mouth out with drinks or anything, brushing very gently when near that area. Mine was the same pain for a day or 2 and now 5 days later feels absolutely fine.

good luck!

I'm following the instructions given to me by my dentist.

Was your wisdom tooth a top one?

Thank you. Good to know.
Have woken up and it feels a bit less sore.
Apparently you can still get dry socket a week afterwards. It sounds horrendous. So am being careful and doing as has been suggested.

Oh have re read and noticed that my op says I'm not eating.. that was for the first few hours only.
I don't mean I'm never eating again. Has some soup for dinner. Will have something like yogurt for breakfast.
Have drunk lots of water to keep hydrated.

I lived on mash potato for the first 5 days I didn’t touch it for months after.

I had 4 out under GA many years ago and I remember feeling like the holes they left behind were enormous! I think I existed on nothing but weetabix with warm milk for about a fortnight and was absolutely fastidious about the rinsing with salt water after any food at all and careful brushing. Salt made me gag though so I swapped to bicarbonate of soda instead and it was much more tolerable and had the same effect. I didn’t develop any dry socket at all. If you’re careful with brushing and keep your mouth scrupulously clean I’m sure you’ll be fine. Good luck