Dry alveolitis, also called post-extraction alveolitis, can occur following tooth extraction, when the socket loses its protective coating and the nerve remains exposed. This ailment is extremely painful and the dentist must undergo further interventions to resolve the problem. Here's how dry alveolitis can be prevented after tooth extraction.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Preventive Measures to Be Taken Before Extraction
Step 1. Find a dentist you trust
How the extraction is done can affect the onset of dry socket. Learn about the procedure and discuss it with your dentist. Make sure you have all the information you need to proceed smoothly. Here's what the dentist will do:
- He will provide you with a mouthwash and a gel to promote proper healing and healing of the socket.
- He will use a disinfectant solution on the wound, placing a gauze on it at the end of the surgery.
Step 2. Find out if you are taking any medications that might interfere with the extraction
Some drugs inhibit blood clotting, which may prevent the protective crust from forming on the empty socket.
- Oral contraceptives increase the risk of developing dry alveolitis.
- If you are a woman and you are taking oral contraceptives, it is best to schedule tooth extraction during the week of suspension (which generally runs from the 23rd to the 28th day), when the estrogen level is lowest.
Step 3. Stop smoking a few days before the extraction
Smoking, as well as the use of other tobacco products, can interfere with the healing of the socket. You could use a nicotine patch for a few days, as inhaling smoke increases the risk of developing dry alveolitis.
Method 2 of 3: Preventive Measures to Be Taken After Extraction
Step 1. Keep your mouth clean
After tooth extraction, you will have an open wound or stitches left in your mouth, so you will need to take special precautions for a few days to keep your mouth clean. Don't brush your teeth, floss, or even mouthwash or other types of rinses for the first 24 hours. After the first day, follow these directions:
- Rinse with water and salt every 2 hours and after all meals.
- Gently brush your teeth, being careful not to touch the wound.
- Use the dental floss very carefully, without touching the wound.
Step 2. Rest
Allow your body to recover energy to heal completely, avoiding tiring activities. In the first few days after the extraction, your mouth will be swollen and painful, so take a few days off from work or skip school to rest.
- Don't talk too much. Keep your mouth still to avoid damaging the scab that begins to form on the socket.
- Avoid exercising unless absolutely necessary. Stay lying or sitting on the sofa for the first 24 hours, then you can start taking slow walks.
Step 3. Drink only water and avoid other types of drinks
Drink plenty of cold water after tooth extraction, but avoid other types of drinks that could interfere with the healing process. So don't drink:
- Coffee and caffeinated sodas.
- Wine, beer, spirits and other spirits.
- Sodas.
- Hot tea, hot water, and other warm or hot liquids that may soften the crust on the socket.
- Don't drink through a straw. Sucking will put pressure on the wound, damaging the scab or hindering its formation.
Step 4. Eat soft foods
Hard foods cause the crust to break and protect the nerve. For the first two days, give priority to mashed potatoes, soups, apple mousse, yogurt, and other soft foods. Gradually switch to slightly more consistent foods as soon as you are able to eat painlessly. Avoid the following foods until completely healed:
- Chewy foods, such as steak and chicken.
- Sticky foods, such as toffee and caramel.
- Crunchy foods, such as apples and chips.
- Spicy foods, which can irritate the wound and hinder healing.
Step 5. Avoid smoking for as long as possible
Do not smoke for the first 24 hours. If possible, wait a few more days before starting over so the wound will heal faster. Do not chew tobacco for at least a week after extraction.
Method 3 of 3: What to Do If You Have Dry Alveolitis
Step 1. You need to know if you have dry alveolitis
Pain is not an exclusive symptom, but if it increases more and more in the two days following the extraction, check for the following symptoms:
- Exposed bone. Look at the wound in the mouth. If you don't see the scab, but the exposed bone, it means you have dry alveolitis.
- Bad breath. It could indicate that the wound is not healing as it should.
Step 2. Go back to the dentist immediately
Dry alveolitis must be treated by the dentist, who will apply an ointment and then cover the wound with gauze in order to promote the regeneration of cells in that area. He will likely prescribe another pain reliever to counter the increasing pain that will spread from the mouth to the ears.
- Follow the dentist's directions carefully. Do not smoke and do not eat solid foods, otherwise the situation will get worse.
- You will probably have to go back to the dentist the following day to have him checked the wound.
- Eventually, a new layer of gum will form on the socket which will serve to cover the bone and protect the nerve. However, complete recovery will take a month or more.
