Honey will act as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic for your case of dry socket but is also linked to preventing infection. To use honey, simply pour some on a clean gauze, and apply it to the affected area. You can leave it for a few minutes or leave it for a few hours.
Honey soaked in sterile gauze placed in dry socket cases showed accelerated healing with minimum patient discomfort. Excess use of eugenol can lead to necrosis of bone. Honey can be used as a medicament for the management of dry socket.
Honey resulted in a decrease in wound sizes and faster healing after extraction of teeth in children. Therefore, use of honey can be recommended after minor surgeries in the oral cavity.
Yogurt, pudding, applesauce and Jell-O are some go-to recovery foods: no chewing involved! Stick to these post-extraction staples for the first 24 hours after your surgery before moving on to soft foods that require chewing.
Factors that can increase your risk of developing dry socket include: Smoking and tobacco use. Chemicals in cigarettes or other forms of tobacco may prevent or slow healing and contaminate the wound site. The act of sucking on a cigarette may physically dislodge the blood clot prematurely.
DRINK WATER
Sip on a little more water than your normal daily amount to flush food particles away from the affected area. Drinking fluids following oral surgery will also speed up the healing process and help to prevent conditions like dry socket.
The wound-healing properties of honey is actually what is beneficial in the treatment of gum infections like bleeding, gingivitis and receding gums. When honey is mixed with water it produces hydrogen peroxide, an antiseptic that is very effective in the treatment of gums.
Teabags can help relieve pain and inflammation from a dry socket. Take a wet tea bag and place it gently against the extraction site. Another great option is placing the teabag in the refrigerator to use it as a soothing cold compress.
Don't Smoke or Drink. Avoid smoking for at least 48 hours after an extraction as the chemicals in the smoke can delay healing, and even provoke serious complications such as inflammation of the empty socket. Similarly, drinking alcohol can slow down clot formation, cause new bleeding, and delay healing.
Dry socket usually occurs within 3-5 days of an extraction and more commonly in the lower jaw. Symptoms include severe pain, a throbbing sensation, an unpleasant taste, a fever, or swollen glands. It can last for up to 7 days. By following your dentist's instructions carefully, dry socket can usually be prevented.
The good news is that a dry socket usually heals in about one week.
Dry socket typically heals within 7-10 days. After this time, new tissue has been able to cover the visible bone and the wound has begun to heal. For patients with thin alveolar bone, such as those with periodontal disease, healing may take longer.
Avoid crunchy, hard, and tough foods for at least 2 weeks. These foods can dislodge the blood clot, damage it, or leave debris behind that will irritate your tooth socket. That means no chips, popcorn, almonds, and other such foods.
#1: Avoid tobacco use – Smoking and using tobacco can increase your risk of developing dry socket after tooth extraction. In fact, smoking anything at all after having a tooth removed – including vaping, for example – is risky, as inhaling quickly to pull in smoke can dislodge a blood clot in your mouth.
Tip #1: Salt Water Rinse
After a tooth has been removed, it is possible for small particles of food to be lodged in the socket. We recommend a gentle salt water rinse to clean the area that is healing and prevent food from getting caught. The salt water promotes healing and reduces the risk of complications.
How Is Dry Socket Treated? You can take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, to ease the discomfort. Sometimes these over-the-counter medications aren't enough to relieve the pain. When that's the case, your doctor may prescribe a stronger drug or will anesthetize the area.
If you do not want to use dry socket paste to manage your condition, some alternative treatments include medicated gauze, zinc oxide eugenol, and low-level laser therapy.
Chapped lip soother: Apply manuka honey to dry lips and sore corners of mouth as needed. Mouthwash or dry-mouth reliever: Swish one-quarter to a half teaspoon of honey in your mouth and swallow to freshen breath.
A culture obtained from the wound prior to beginning the honey treatment revealed Staphylococcus aureus. Honey may be considered as a therapeutic option for superficial abscesses due to Staphylococcus aureus.
Always consult your dentist about which medications to take after a tooth extraction. Ibuprofen, for example, can cause side effects, such as an allergic reaction or stomach upsets.
The pain may radiate to other areas of the face and a foul odor may be present. Drinking cold water and breathing in air may also cause discomfort. Food debris commonly collect in the empty socket and aggravate the problem.
When you develop dry socket, it can be extremely painful. The condition is also considered a dental emergency because it interferes with your recovery from a tooth extraction.