Aftercare
What is dry socket, and how do I avoid it?
Dry socket is when the protective clot never forms or is dislodged, exposing bone and nerves. It brings pain a few days after extraction. Avoid it by skipping straws and smoking. It's treatable — phone us if it strikes.
What dry socket actually is
After a tooth comes out, a blood clot forms in the socket to shield the raw bone and nerves while everything heals. Dry socket is when that protective clot never quite forms, or gets knocked loose too early — leaving the bone exposed and painfully sensitive.
It affects only a small share of extractions, maybe 2 to 5 percent, and it favours wisdom teeth in the lower jaw. It is not an infection as such, but it is genuinely sore and worth having seen.
How to avoid it, and how you'd know
You dodge it mostly by protecting that clot in the first few days: no straws, no smoking, no vigorous rinsing or spitting, and keeping to soft food. Smoking is a particularly strong trigger, so giving it a miss while you heal makes a real difference.
The tell-tale sign is pain that gets worse a few days after the tooth is out, rather than steadily easing — often with a bad taste or breath. If that happens, phone us. It is very treatable: we can clean and dress the socket to settle the pain and get healing back on track.
Common questions
How soon after an extraction does dry socket happen?
Usually around three to five days afterwards. The clue is pain that worsens instead of easing, often with a bad taste or odour. Contact us if that happens — it responds well to treatment.
Does dry socket heal on its own?
It often settles in time, but it can be very painful meanwhile. We can clean and place a soothing dressing in the socket to ease the pain and support healing, so it's worth coming in.