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Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffDry socket rarely results in infection or serious complications. But getting the pain under control is a top priority. You can help promote healing and reduce symptoms during treatment of dry socket by:
- Holding cold packs to the outside of your face to help decrease pain and swelling
- Taking pain medications as prescribed
- Not smoking or using tobacco products
- Drinking plenty of clear liquids to remain hydrated and to prevent nausea that may be associated with some pain medications
- Rinsing your mouth gently with warm salt water several times a day
- Brushing your teeth gently around the dry socket area
- Keeping scheduled appointments with your dentist or oral surgeon for dressing changes and other care
- Calling for a sooner appointment if your pain returns or worsens before your next scheduled appointment
References
- Adeyemo WL, et al. Clinical evaluation of post-extraction wound site healing. Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice. 2006;7(3):40-49.
- Roberts JR, et al. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2004.
- Neville BW, et al. Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:150-153.
- Hita-Iglesias P, et al. Effectiveness of chlorhexidine gel versus chlorhexidine rinse in reducing alveolar osteitis in mandibular third molar surgery. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2008;66:441-445.
- Noroozi A, et al. Modern concepts in understanding and management of the "drysocket" syndrome: Comprehensive review of the literature. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology & Endodontics. In press. Accessed Sept. 9, 2008.
