Dry socket: symptoms and treatment
Quick answer
How do I know if I have dry socket?
Dry socket usually shows up two to four days after an extraction: pain that gets worse instead of better, often spreading to the ear or temple, with a bad taste or smell and an empty-looking socket.
Over-the-counter pain relief often barely helps. Call York House Dental Practice in West Byfleet on 01932 348864 — we clean the socket and place a soothing dressing, which usually brings relief within hours.
What you need to know
It happens when the blood clot in the socket is lost or never forms properly, leaving bone exposed. It is painful but not usually a serious infection, and it heals — the dressing mainly controls pain while the socket fills in.
The biggest risk factors are smoking, lower wisdom teeth, a difficult extraction and disturbing the clot early. For the first 24 hours avoid smoking, straws, spitting, vigorous rinsing and hot drinks. Start gentle warm salt-water rinses the next day if we have advised it.
Normal healing feels steadily better each day. Swelling, fever or pus suggests infection rather than dry socket — call us the same day. See extraction aftercare and tooth extractions.
Last reviewed: by Dr Kaveet Patel, Principal Dentist
