If you have stitches and the gum covers the extraction site completely, then you can start brushing your teeth gently after 12 hours. Just make sure that you avoid the extraction area. Rinse your mouth gently, without too much pressure, with saltwater every two hours and after every meal. [2] X Expert Source Alina Lane, DDSBoard Certified Dentist Expert Interview. 21 April 2020. Brush your teeth gently, being careful not to touch the wound. Floss your teeth carefully without going near the wound.
Don’t do a lot of talking. Let your mouth be still as the sockets begin to form a scab and the swelling goes down. Don’t do unnecessary exercise. Lie or sit on your sofa for the first 24 hours, then do light walking for the next few days. Avoid touching the area of the extraction and also try not to sleep on that side for two to three days.
Coffee, soda, and other drinks that contain caffeine. Wine, beer, liquor, and other drinks that contain alcohol. Soda, diet soda, and other drinks that are carbonated. Hot tea, hot water, and other drinks that are warm or hot, since these can loosen the scab that is forming over the socket. Don’t use a straw when drinking liquids. The sucking motion puts stress on the wound, and can cause the scab not to form.
Chewy foods, like steak and chicken. Sticky foods, like toffee and caramel. Crunchy foods, like apples and potato chips. Spicy foods, which can irritate the wound and prevent it from healing.
Your oral surgeon will provide you with mouthwashes and gels designed to help the socket heal properly. The surgeon will also dress your wound with antiseptic solutions and gauze to protect it when the surgery is over.
Oral contraceptives put women at greater risk of developing dry sockets. If you are a woman taking oral contraceptives, it can help to schedule the extraction to take place during days 23 to 28 of your cycle, when your estrogen levels are low.
Exposed bone. Look into your mouth at the surgical wound. If you don’t see a scab, and you do see exposed bone, you have a dry socket. Bad breath. A bad smell coming from your mouth could be an indication that the wound isn’t healing properly.
Carefully follow the dentist’s instructions for caring for a dry socket. Don’t smoke, eat chewy foods, or otherwise exacerbate the situation. You may be asked to return every day to have your dressing changed. Eventually new tissue will form over the socket, covering the bone and the exposed wound which contains nerves and vessels. It may take a month or longer to fully heal.
