How do you know if dry socket?

Dry socket is an unpleasant but fairly common condition that can occur after a tooth extraction. It’s caused by the blood clot you need for healing coming loose, leaving the nerve exposed and vulnerable. Trust us when we say this – dry sockets are no laughing matter! In fact, they’re downright painful. But how do you know if you have one? Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, so it’s not always easy to tell.

To help guide you in your quest for dental knowledge (and pain relief), here’s our comprehensive guide to spotting dry socket.

The Basics of Dry Socket

Before diving into specific symptoms, let’s review some basics:

  • A dry socket occurs when the blood clot that forms over an extraction site becomes dislodged or dissolves prematurely.
  • Smoking or using straws can increase your risk of developing a dry socket.
  • You’re most likely to develop a dry socket within 3-5 days after having teeth removed.

Now that we’ve got those out of the way (we see you shaking your head ‘yes’ there) – let’s talk specifics!

Pain

The primary sign of a dry socket is intense pain in and around the extraction site (ouch!). This pain may extend throughout your jaw and face and can be described as throbbing or radiating. It often starts several days after your procedure once initial soreness has begun subsiding.

If at any point after an extraction procedure, especially with wisdom teeth extractions, you find yourself popping more anti-inflammatory pills than usual because it seems like mad cow disease moved into your mouth, it might be time to start considering whether getting healthy was worth all this.

Foul odor/taste

Another classic symptom(?) is bad breath stemming from what feels/smells like dirty gym socks stuck on top portion where tooth used to exist OR a really old sandwich found under seat of a car kind of smell. This is caused by bacteria that can accumulate in the exposed socket and rot among others things, like materials used during the extraction procedure or drugs you swished your mouth with pre-surgery but forget to cause as directed after.

Visible Changes

If you’re feeling any pain (or have already passed out from it), moving onto visible changes should be right up there on your list. With dry socket, it’s common for the site to look different than normal – especially if its shape resembles an overgrown cave(you get our asthetic). You may notice:

  • Increased depth/throatiness/deepness
  • White bone showing through where tooth was removed
  • Bright red gums encircling/blottling around this window that teeth leave

Just so we are clear how painful(aka extreme discomfort) this all sounds put together…imagine Chipotle giving you EXTRA hot sauce AND jalapenos before realizing they ran out of sour cream upon leaving counter….yeahh…something along those lines..

Do I Have a Dry Socket?

Based on what we’ve covered above, here’s how to determine if what you’re experiencing could, in fact, be a dry socket:

Pain: Severe (8/10) compared to 3-4 days after surgery
Foul odor/taste: Unpleasant breath despite good hygiene OR taste/smell similar to spoiled milk/heavy-duty gym socks
Coloration: (anything but natural!)     -> Lightening is normal!
Around site
Typical color
Foods turned around conrner
(if not will cause discoloration)b engu
Bright red gums or visible bone -> This color is really FAKE! Will require attention

Note – These symptoms don’t always present themselves together. In fact, one of them on it’s own could be very light or missable.

If you’re experiencing the symptoms above and think it could be a dry socket beyond that sausage/pepperoni pizza from 4 years ago, here’s your next step.

What to Do if You Think You Have a Dry Socket

  • Don’t wait around hoping things might get better on their own!
  • Give your dentist/oral surgeon a call ASAP.
    • They’ll likely ask questions about what you’re experiencing and how severe the pain is
    • If they determine that you’re indeed suffering from such condition(that goes without saying) , they can schedule an appointment with us assess the situation(or another specialist in severe cases)
  • While waiting for evaluation check out “Alieve” booklets handy(ice cubes work too !)
    warning — dont actually put ice directly onto affected area like Arnold Schwarzenegger w/o thought. Use warmth as well towards night before sleep

Now we know this all sounds terrifying…but just remember:

“Today was bad, tomorrow will probably be worse—but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” – Jack Ma.

We may have exaggerated that last part some BUT hopefully these tips help make getting through tough times until health stabilizes!

Conclusion

While most reports indicate only~5% of extractions end up resulting in Dry Sockets,it doesn’t mean anyone wants to join than club ever.(we see your bitter smile). It’s important to pay close attention during recovery period following any extraction procedure including going for follow-ups appointments regardless of how not-fun they might be. Knowing what to look out for and taking action as soon possible can definitely make the process of recovery smoother! Until then, keep calm and follow procedure(post-op-care leaflet provided) onto a happier, healthier smile – its not THAT bad(but don’t sleep on ice cubes either)!

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