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How to Avoid Dry Sockets After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Dry socket is a possible side effect of wisdom teeth removal. At Kool Smiles, we can treat your child’s dry sockets and help relieve any pain he or she might be experiencing.

Keep reading to learn about dry sockets and what you can do to help avoid them.

What Is a Dry Socket?

After a tooth is removed, a blood clot usually forms where the tooth was previously located. 

Dry socket occurs if this blood clot becomes damaged or removed before the wound has had time to heal, causing pain in the nerve or bone.

Symptoms of Dry Socket

If your child experiences any of the following symptoms after wisdom tooth removal, he or she could have dry socket:

  • Fever
  • Visible bone at the tooth removal site
  • Swollen lymph nodes around jaw
  • Bad odor coming from mouth
  • Severe pain that begins within a few days of wisdom tooth removal and affects the ear, eye, neck, or temple

dry sockets wisdom teeth treatment

How to Prevent Dry Socket

When your child has wisdom teeth removed, or has had a tooth extraction, it is important to follow the dentist’s after-care orders to help prevent dry socket.

Some common suggestions include:

  • Using a medicated mouth rinse (prescribed by dentists)
  • Regularly changing the gauze
  • Not drinking out of a straw or eating food that gets stuck in teeth easily
  • Eating only soft foods for a few days after the procedure (mashed potatoes, soup, ice cream, Jell-O, etc.)
  • Avoiding carbonated drinks (soda, sparkling water, etc.)
  • Gently rinsing the mouth with warm salt water after meals for a week after surgery

braces for teeth

Where Should I Go If My Child Has Dry Socket?

If your child has dry socket, take him or her to see a dentist immediately. Your child’s dentist will provide the following treatments for dry socket:

  • A thorough washing of the socket to remove any debris
  • Application of medicated gauze to protect the area and decrease pain
  • Prescription medication to help reduce pain
  • Antibiotic to prevent infection

With proper care and rest, the dry socket should heal within seven to 10 days.

At Kool Smiles, our dentists are skilled in treating dry sockets and performing wisdom teeth removal. Whether your child needs his or her wisdom teeth removed or requires treatment for dry sockets, the dentists at Kool Smiles are here to help.

Why Kool Smiles?

At Kool Smiles, we make it our mission to provide quality dental care at an affordable price. Our dentists are highly skilled and have years of experience treating children.

We have more than 120 locations across the United States, and we accept all types of payment options including, Medicaid, TRICARE, SCHIP, and most other major insurance plans.

Call Kool Smiles Today

If your child is experiencing dry sockets after a wisdom teeth removal, call Kool Smiles today for treatment.

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Sources:

Colgate: http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/wisdom-teeth/article/tooth-extraction-and-dry-sockets

Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-socket/basics/definition/con-20025990