Dry Socket – A Painful Dental Problem That Can Be Healed with Natural Remedies

Any tooth extraction triggers some discomfort, indeed. But dry socket, or alveolar osteitis, is a complication that occurs after you had a tooth pulled out and it can be extremely painful.

After the extraction, there will be a hole in the bone. That hole is called socket. In order to protect the bone and the nerves, a blood clot forms and it should stay there until the wound is healed. A dry socket means that this blood clot is dissolved or dislodged a few days after the extraction. Those who are more likely to experience a dry socket are the persons who have a wisdom tooth extraction or who experienced complications during the tooth extraction surgery. Poor oral hygiene and excessive smoking may also lead to dry socket. Another risk factor for women is the usage of birth control pills.

It is easy to recognize a dry socket – you experience severe pain that may also radiate to your ear, and when you look into your mouth, you see that the socket is looking dry and empty. A bad breath or taste may also be experienced when you have dry socket.

In order to help the wound to heal quicker and to reduce the pain, you can try the following natural remedies.

• Tea Tree Oil

This remedy is often used in healing wounds because it is a powerful natural antiseptic. In fact, it has been proven to be as effective as an adjunctive wound treatment when it comes to dry socket. It is also very simple to use. Put one or two tea tree oil drops on a damp cotton swab and then apply it on the dry socket area by pressing gently. Wait a few minutes, and then rinse your mouth with lukewarm water. Repeat this about 2-3 times a day.

• Clove Oil

Clove oil has been successfully used in healing dry socket for many years, due to its anesthetic and analgesic proprieties. These attributes of clove oil make it the perfect remedy for reducing the severe pain associated to dry socket. Moreover, as clove oil also has antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial proprieties, it will reduce the risk of infection. So you can trustfully use it when you have to deal with a dry socket. Take a small cotton swab and dip it in clove oil, put it in the socket and leave it there for one minute. Then, remove it and rinse your mouth with lukewarm water. You may do this 2-3 times a day or whenever it is needed.

• Salt and Water

Salt helps in preventing infections, as it has great antibacterial proprieties. When you have a dry socket, a solution of salt and water may help you. Take ½ teaspoon of salt and dissolve it in a cup of warm water, and then rinse your mouth with the obtained solution. Do this for about three times a day, and pay attention to be gentle when rinsing. This remedy will also reduce the swelling and the pain, but it is better to use it as a prevention measure, and not wait until you have a dry socket.