Dry Socket Remedies

Dry socket or alveolar osteitis occurs when an adult tooth is extracted or after the wisdom tooth removal procedure. When a tooth is extracted, it leads to a blood clot. A blood clot is usually replaced by a healing or granulation tissue, but at times, when the healing tissue fails to grow or is disrupted at the time of growth, it results in an empty space or dry socket. The tooth socket is exposed to air, food and fluids and often results in pain, foul odor and taste emanating from it. Besides this, dry socket also affects the eyes and ears of the patient and leads to the swelling of lymph nodes. The pain usually lasts for 24-72 hours and can vary from mild to severe. Although alveolar osteitis is a self-limiting condition which improves and disappears over a period of time and there is no real treatment available, application of several home remedies can do the trick and reduce the pain to a large extent. This article deals with the home remedial measures to counter dry socket.

Dry Socket Home Remedies

Applying clove oil in the affected area is the most sought-after home remedy for dry socket. Clove oil is available in most pharmaceutical stores and even natural food stores. First of all, dilute the oil by dipping the cotton in water first and then oil to reduce the sting of clove. Now dab the cotton on the affected tooth and even around it. Repeat it once or twice a day.
You can also try to rinse your mouth with lukewarm water and a pinch of salt or turmeric to reduce the pain. Besides relieving you for a while, it also helps in removing debris or food particles stuck in the tooth socket. Like the syringe method, this removes debris and food particles. The salt aids in drawing fluid to the area, which, in turn, promotes healing.
Another way to heal dry socket pain naturally is to use a syringe with a curved tip to squirt lukewarm salt water into the socket area. This effectively flushes out any food particles or other debris causing irritation in that area. Make sure you do it at least once a day until you are completely healed.
Did you know that yoghurt is a natural antibiotic? So make it a point to add it to your diet if you are suffering from a dry socket pain.
Wash your mouth with peroxide solution, but make sure you don’t swallow the liquid. This home remedy can reduce the pain instantly.
If your pain is intense, take a cold tea bag and press it on the affected area with your teeth. Another option is to use a cold tea bag and press it with the help of your teeth on the area where the pain is intense. The tannic acid present in the tea bag relieves the pain.
Prepare a mixture of dry salt, turmeric and mustard oil and gently apply it on the dry socket. Besides alleviating the dry socket pain, it is often prescribed by dentists as a natural remedy to maintain your dental health.
In case the dry socket has led to swelling of your mouth and neck region, using an ice pack is of great help.
Since saliva and air can intense the pain, you can avoid it by biting a moist piece of gauze. This avoids the entry of saliva and air into the socket. However, make sure you keep replacing the gauze frequently for effective results.
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. However adjust accordingly to make sure you don’t irritate the affected area. Also, avoid drinking out of straws which can create suction in the mouth.
Despite trying these remedial measures, if the pain still persists, it is advisable to take a pain-killer or visit the dentist.

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