Dry socket….how soon can you eat after having treatment for this?

[Fanny]

i had wisdom tooth out three days ago and developed a dry socket. How soon can I eat after treatment for dry socket? I know soft foods but when?

 

[letsconnect]

You can eat pretty much any time (as in, now). It may be best to avoid very hard/crunchy and spicy foods for the first week though.

 

[Fanny]

Thanks for response. My face is a bit puffy tonight. My dentist put something in the dry socket and said to see him in two weeks. But I have read you need to change the dressing more often than that. Is that the case? Is there still often a smell from the mouth because I have that. I thought the treatment would stop that?

Can I also use salt water in my mouth tonight?

 

[letsconnect]

Modern dressings are designed as a once-off treatment (although if it comes out and the pain returns don’t hesitate to go back to have it replaced). Swelling after wisdom tooth extraction tends to be worst on day 2 and 3 so the puffiness is probably normal. The smell should disappear as you heal more.

You can find lots more info here:

Healing after Tooth Removal

What should you do following tooth extractions? Find out about the healing process, and the do's and don'ts for a speedy recovery.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

 

[Fanny]

Thank you for your response. Do antibiotics help with dry socket and how do you know if the dressing has come out? It is difficult to see my socket, tucked away at the back,

 

[letsconnect]

No, antibiotics don't do anything for dry socket. The only reason you would need to go back to your dentist before your next appointment would be if the pain returned (i.e. pain that can't be controlled by over-the-counter painkillers as suggested by your dentist). So it doesn't really matter whether or not the dressing is in place, as long as there is no bad pain.

 

[Fanny]

I had my treatment for dry socket 11 hours ago is it ok to rinse with salt water now? Thanks for your responses

 

[Fanny]

The dressing put in for dry socket came out this morning. Does it need to be replaced because now weekend and dentists closed? It was put in yesterday

 

[letsconnect]

See above

The only reason you would need to go back to your dentist before your next appointment would be if the pain returned (i.e. pain that can't be controlled by over-the-counter painkillers as suggested by your dentist). So it doesn't really matter whether or not the dressing is in place, as long as there is no bad pain.

I can't see a reason why you shouldn't rinse with salt water if you feel like it?