With Reflexologist Nuria Weaver
Home Remedies for Dry Socket
Dry socket is a common problem faced by many after an extraction of an adult tooth. It is estimated that in about 5% of the tooth extractions, this may occur. Medically this is termed as alveolar osteitis. This can be observed when the impacted wisdom teeth are removed. And if you suffer from the condition, then the pain is usually felt after one to three days of the extractions. The treatments are mainly geared to reduce the pain and the symptoms associated with it. You can also seek the help of some very effective home remedies for dry socket.
Causes of Dry Socket:
The dry socket occurs due to the loss of blood clot at the site of the extraction and which eventually exposes the bone to air, fluids and food. This may result to severe pain.
The blood clot is a protective layer under which lie the bones and nerve endings to the empty tooth socket. This provides an area for the growth of a new bone and a soft tissue over the clot. The causes for the dry socket are:
- The blood clot does not form properly
- The clot dissolves or is dislodged physically before the complete healing takes place
- This may not fill with any new tissue in the extracted tooth's root space
According to researchers, there are other causes too that can play an important role in causing the problem. These are:
- Bacterial contamination at the socket
- Severe bone and tissue trauma at the site of extraction
- Very less or small fragments of roots or of the bone remaining at the wound area
Symptoms of Dry Socket:
It is normal to have soreness and discomfort after a tooth extraction. The dry socket often occurs 2-3 days after the extractions and may last about 5-6 days. However, the pain should lessen after the second day onwards. Some of the signs and symptoms associated with dry socket are:
- A partial or total loss of the blood clot at the site of tooth extractions which you can observe as some empty-looking dry socket
- A visible bone at the socket
- Foul odor and bad breath
- The pain may radiate from the socket towards the ear, eye, neck and temple. You may also feel it on the same side of the face of the tooth extraction
- An unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Lymph nodes can swell around the jaw and neck
Some of the effective and beneficial home remedies are listed below:
- You can simply squirt salt water or just simple water into the socket area with the help of a syringe. This will flush away the food particles and other form of debris from the site. Follow this procedure at least one time in a day and continue for some couple of weeks. This will reduce the irritation considerably.
- Clove is by far the best treatment for dental related problems including dry socket. All you got to do here is apply some clove oil in the socket area so as to reduce the pain. You can dilute the oil as it is quite strong and may sting.
- Applying an ice pack can reduce the pain considerably. You can apply the pack directly on the affected area.
- Turmeric has antiseptic properties that really work well in treating dry socket. Just add a pinch of turmeric powder in a cup of warm water and use this for gargling purpose. Another alternative method you can try at home is to use a pinch of turmeric in some damp piece of cloth and hold this in the affected area that is the dry socket.
- You can also massage the gums using some pinch of turmeric that can be mixed with some salt. This can soothe the pain and also improve your hygiene.
- Yogurt contains natural antibiotic. This is really effective to reduce the dry socket pain instantly. Hence don't forget to include this in your diet.
- A peroxide solution is also effective to reduce the pain associated with dry socket. You simply need to wash your mouth with this solution but be sure not to swallow the liquid.
- Another very easy and simple remedy to lessen the intense pain is to use a cold tea bag. You simply have to press the tea bag on to the affected area. This is better if you pressed with your teeth. Tea bag contains tannic acid which is ideal to relive the pain.
Preventive measures and tips or dry socket:
- The cold packs used should be held outside the face so as to reduce the swelling and pain.
- Use only prescribed medicines by a dentist.
- Brush your teeth gently especially around the dry socket area.
- Keep your body well hydrated so as to prevent nausea which may be due to the pain medications.
- Do not smoke and avoid tobacco products as these may make your condition worse.
- Visit the dentist for dressing changes and other related care.
- As saliva and air can intensify the pain. So avoid these two with the help of gauze. All you need to bite a moist piece of gauze and change this when required. This will avoid the saliva and air to reach the dry socket area.
Dry socket hardly results in to any form of infection or complications. The only top priority is to bring the pain under control. These home remedies for dry socket and preventive measures aims to reduce the pain and speed up the healing process.
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