How To Avoid Dry Socket After Tooth Removal – Our Top Tips & Advice

Dry socket is a painful condition that can occur after a tooth extraction when the blood clot in the extraction site is damaged or dislodged. This clot is essential for proper healing, so dry socket can prolong the healing process, and even require you to come back to Kitty Hawk Dental Care for follow-up treatment from Dr. King.

The good news is that dry socket can easily be avoided as long as you follow Dr. King’s instructions while healing. In this blog, Kitty Hawk Dental Care will look at a few tips that will help you avoid this condition during the first few days of the recovery process.

1. Avoid Using A Straw
   Sucking on a straw puts pressure on the clot and can dislodge it. You should not use a straw for at least 2-3 days after your tooth extraction. This allows the clot to heal, bond with the extraction site, and become secured in place.
2. Don’t Spit Vigorously‍
   Spitting with a lot of force strains your blood clot, similarly to using a straw. As we’ll discuss later, you should use a mouth rinse to clean your mouth and extraction site after your surgery. But when you’re finished rinsing, don’t spit it out. Just let the liquid drip out of your mouth gently. Avoid spitting of any kind for at least 2-3 days after your appointment.‍
3. Stop Smoking‍
   You shouldn’t smoke for at least 3 days (72 hours) after your extraction. Tobacco smoke reduces blood flow and slows down the healing process, and the action of sucking on a cigarette, cigar, vape, or another such product can dislodge the blood clot, similarly to using a straw or spitting vigorously.
   In fact, we recommend stopping ceasing for up to a week after your extraction to speed up the healing process. This is a good time to explore quitting permanently. Quitting smoking is great for both your oral and overall health. ‍
4. Eat Soft Foods‍
   You need to eat soft and liquid foods for 2-3 days after your appointment, including ice cream, smoothies, yogurt, milkshakes, and other such foods. Tough, hard, and crunchy foods can damage or dislodge your blood clot.
   After about 3 days, you can add foods like pasta and mashed potatoes back into your diet, but hard foods should still be avoided for at least a week, at a minimum.‍
5. Don’t Brush The Extraction Site Directly ‍
   You can brush your other teeth normally, but don’t brush your extraction site for at least 3-4 days, and ideally about a week. Instead of brushing, use a prescription rinse or salt water rinse to keep your extraction site clean.‍

Need A Tooth Extraction? See Dr. King In Livermore Today!‍

As an experienced dentist, Dr. Kimberly King can provide pain-free, gentle tooth extractions in Livermore. Not only that, but we will only recommend extraction if it’s the best option. During your consultation, Dr. King will explore the choices you have for saving and restoring your tooth.

So don’t wait. Contact us online or give us a call at (925) 371-8880 to schedule an appointment and get the treatment you need in Livermore.