How to Relieve Dry Socket

Medically reviewed by Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS

Last Updated: December 9, 2021 References

Dry socket is also called alveolar osteitis. It is a complication that can happen after you have a permanent tooth removed, usually with intense force. It occurs when the blood clot that was protecting the extraction site comes off before the wound has healed.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon
Expert Interview. 5 November 2020.} Fortunately, there are a variety of home remedies you can use to relieve dry socket pain and prevent your dry socket from getting worse.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Home Remedies for Dry Socket Pain

1
Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. A salt water rinse will clean your dry socket and reduce bacteria. Mix 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) of salt into a glass of warm water, and gently swish the mixture in your mouth for 30 seconds before spitting it out.^{[2]
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- Aggressive swishing can actually make your dry socket worse. Swish gently, or just let the salt water flood your mouth before spitting it out.
2
Dress your dry socket with honey. Studies show that applying honey to a dry socket can actually reduce inflammation and pain. Apply ¹⁄₄ teaspoon (1.2 mL) of honey to a piece of sterile gauze, then place the gauze on your dry socket. Replace the gauze and honey every 3 hours.^{[3]
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3
Reduce swelling with an ice pack. This can supplement the medications and reduce your pain. Cold packs are particularly effective in the first two days after the extraction. Apply the ice pack, wrapped in a thin towel, to the outside of your face.
- Do not put the ice directly on your skin as this may damage it. Apply the ice for approximately 10 minutes before giving your skin a chance to warm up.
- If you do not have an ice pack prepared, you can use a package of frozen peas or corn wrapped in a towel.
4
Apply warmth after the first two days. This will help increase the circulation and may reduce your pain. Ask your dentist what they recommend, but possibilities may include:
- Purchasing warming patches in your local drug store. They are available over-the-counter and are typically applied to the skin over the painful area. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Applying a hot water bottle that is wrapped in a towel. Do not apply the heat directly to your skin because this increases your risk of burning yourself.
5
Stay hydrated. Even if it hurts, it is still important that you drink enough water to prevent dehydration. Being properly hydrated will help you heal quickly and combat the nausea that may be a side effect of some pain medications. Just make sure fluids are room temperature — too hot or too cold can cause complications in the healing process. Monitor yourself for signs of dehydration such as:^{[4]
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- Thirst
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dry skin
- Dizziness
- Infrequent urination
- Passing cloudy or dark urine
6
Do not smoke or use tobacco. Tobacco may slow the healing process and make you more prone to an infection. In addition, the suction produced when you inhale while smoking can irritate the wound, allowing nicotine and other dangerous substances to reach directly into the extraction site.
- If you know that you will not be able to resist the craving, ask your doctor about trying a nicotine patch or nicotine replacement therapy.
- These treatments may also help you begin the process of quitting.
7
Follow your dentist’s instructions for caring for the wound. This may include rinsing your mouth and brushing carefully.^{[5]
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- Be careful when brushing around the socket.
- Do not drink from a straw until it has healed. The suction may irritate the wound.
8
Treat an infection with antibiotics. If your socket has become infected, you may receive a prescription for antibiotics. Always take the entire course of antibiotics, even after your symptoms are gone. This is important to prevent antibiotic resistant strains from evolving. Seek medical attention immediately if you develop any of the following signs of an infection:^{[6]
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- Increasing pain or swelling
- Worsening breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Fever

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Treating Dry Socket

1
Learn to rinse the socket. The doctor will probably rinse the socket for you when you are in the office. This may help alleviate pain by removing pieces of food or debris that could be irritating it or causing an infection. The doctor will likely explain how to continue flushing it yourself at home:^{[7]
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Expert Source

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon
Expert Interview. 5 November 2020.}
- You will probably receive a plastic syringe to use when rinsing the socket. Depending upon your situation, the doctor may tell you to use the syringe to flush the socket with water, salt water, or a special rinse.
- Continue rinsing the socket until it has healed enough that food and debris do not get stuck in it. Meanwhile, you should continue with good oral hygiene, brushing at least two times a day.
2
Ask the doctor about medicated dressings. The doctor may put medicated dressings like padding into the wound. This may reduce your pain within a few hours. Depending upon your situation, your doctor may:^{[8]
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Expert Source

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon
Expert Interview. 5 November 2020.}
- Ask you to schedule appointments to return for new dressings
- Teach you to change them yourself and give you a schedule of how often to do it
3
Discuss pain medications. The type of medication your doctor recommends will depend on how much pain you're in. They'll likely provide you with prescription strength medications, although they may recommend over-the-counter options.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon
Expert Interview. 5 November 2020.}
- Provide your doctor with a list of all other medications you take. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies and dietary supplements. It is important the dentist know what else you take so they can prescribe you something that won’t interact with anything else you are taking.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Determining If You Have Dry Socket

1
Recognize the symptoms. You may also be able to see that all or part of the blood clot in the socket is missing. You may even see bone below. Symptoms include:^{[10]
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- Pain that increases a few days after the tooth was removed. The pain may radiate from your socket to your ear, eye, temple or neck.
- Pain that does not respond to medication
- Bad breath
- A bad taste in your mouth
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
2
Contact your dentist immediately if you think you have dry socket. Chances are your dentist will ask you to come in so they can examine your wound. The dentist may:^{[11]
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- Check to see if the blood clot is absent.
- Look for exposed bone.
- Take an X-ray to exclude osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone, as the source of your pain.
3
Discuss any risk factors that may have lead to your dry socket. There are several things that can make you more likely to wind up with dry socket after having a tooth removed. Be honest with your dentist if they ask about the following risk factors:^{[12]
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- An infection around the extracted tooth. If the gums or the extracted tooth were infected when the extraction took place, your dentist was likely aware of it; however, if the infection was in the past and you were treated by another dentist, your doctor might not have been aware.
- Smoking or using a straw. Anything that requires a sucking action can loosen a blood clot. Tobacco may also make the wound heal more slowly.^{[13]
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  Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
  Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon
  Expert Interview. 5 November 2020.}
- Birth control pills. Birth control pills that cause you to have high estrogen levels can inhibit healing.
- Corticosteroids. In particular, prednisone may make you vulnerable to dry socket, as it creates a powerful anti-inflammatory effect which slows the healing.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I prevent dry socket?

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon
Dr. Pradeep Adatrow is the only board certified Dentist, Periodontist, and Prosthodontist in the southern United States. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Adatrow specializes in dental implants, TMJ treatments, periodontal plastic surgery, surgical and non-surgical periodontics, bone regeneration, laser treatments, and soft tissue and gum graft procedures. He received a BS in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Alabama and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. Dr. Adatrow then completed a three-year postgraduate program in periodontics and implantology at Indiana University and went on to complete another three-year postdoctoral program in advanced prosthodontics from the University of Tennessee. He also serves as a full-time professor and the Director of Surgical Prosthodontics at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Adatrow received the Dean's Junior Faculty Award and the John Diggs Faculty Award, and he was inducted into the Deans Odontological Society. He is board certified by the American Board of Periodontology and is a Fellow of the prestigious International College of Dentistry – a feat that only 10,000 others worldwide can claim.

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS

Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon

Expert Answer

Take your prescribed pain medication, do not smoke or use a straw, and rinse your mouth frequently with warm salt water. When you brush your teeth, be gentle around the wound area, and drink plenty of clear fluids to keep hydrated and to avoid nausea associated with certain pain medications.