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by daycare nurse on August 11th, 2004

daycare nurse

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Is there a home remedy for a dry socket that won't heal where I had a tooth pulled?

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Answers. 47 helpful answers below.

  • by my god the pain on June 16th, 2009

    my god the pain

    i am working in slovakia and had to have my tooth out 7 days ago.molar 7 they call it next to the wisdom.i have been in mega pain and have had to go to school everyday and deal with lots of screaming kids trying to teach them to speak better english.i can hardly speak myself.i don't know how long this is gonna last and i have been taking dalacin c antibiotics and i think far too many ibuprofenum 400mgs.i'm not sure how good this clove oil is but i have been cleaning the never ending hole where my tooth used to be with salt water and i have tried removing the food with tweasers, but unless i can find a fishing rod small enough to fit in my mouth i will always be unable to goto the bottom as i have nothing short of the grand canyon in my mouth.i think that someone should set up a dry socket charity and maybe we could get some reward for all this pain.I know this sounds sick but thanks for making me realise that i am not alone and i don't know if it was posted on this site or not but i really really feel for the guy who has had four of them at the same time.SOMEONE GIVE HIM A MEDAL!!!!

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  • by Richmond10 on June 17th, 2009

    Richmond10

    I have had dry socket now for almost 2 months and the pain in excruciating. I was put on anitiobitiotics and the pain subsided for two weeks, now it is back again. I don't know what to do as it is so painful. I live in the UK and the dentists here are unhelpful as to what kind of time period I can look forward to for this horrible thing to heal.....

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  • by jto on May 2nd, 2009

    jto

    as above the pain was relentless from my dry socket...like extreme toothache but without the tooth

    I'm no senttling into my new relationship with clove oil.....i ran out to get some, along with a pair of tweezers and some cotton wool gauze..

    made a very small cotton ball, let it soak up some clove oil and then i put it in the socket......the pain relief was near enough instant....

    i'm just gunna keep doing this until its healed

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  • by Anonymous on March 4th, 2009

    Anonymous

    I my self just had my teeth taken out last week and the dry sockets have just emegred, i called my oral surgeon and he saw me that day, there is actually a disolveable thing(i am not quite sure what it is exactly) that as soon as it was put in relived the pain.

    I agree that this is by far the worest pain i have ever Experienced, i have had three knee operations and nothing has even come close to the pain i experienced having these teeth removed

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  • by tasha on March 3rd, 2009

    tasha

    I now have dry socket. Perfect timing: i just started a new job and moved to a new apartment, and my job is teaching, in which talking is a must.
    I have tried all kinds of meds. I have even had to go to the ER twice, and have them give me an emergency IV analgesic. They then prescribed me with a pill analgesic. I've been popping them like candy. A five day prescription is lasting only two days...and i'm trying to hustle my way to get more...I feel like I'm going to OD on them things. I agree with everyone who says that this is the WORSE pain I've ever experienced in my life: worse than female cramps (and I get them bad), worse than my ankle sprain and broken bone, worse than slamming my fingers on the car door...JUST PLAIN HORRIBLE. I wouldn't wish this pain on my worse enemy. And the worse part is that it doesn't go away...and those who've said that dry sockets last months or weeks are really scaring me! I hope not, or shoot me now! The bad news for me is that I REALLY REALLY WANT TO TRY THE CLOVE OIL TREATMENT, however, i live in Korea, and they don't use this stuff. I'm sooo upset about that. I'd do anything for clove oil. I hope the foreigners market has some, but it's past closing time now and must wait until tomorrow after work! SUCKS! Question: packing the hole with gauze daily, will that affect healing time? Are there any other alternatives beside clove oil that will also work?

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  • by rani_drummond on January 26th, 2009

    rani_drummond

    I came on here last week in desperation when I was in agony with an infected dry socket, and was alarmed to find there were people complaining of up to a fortnight's pain, but no-one saying when it would end!

    So for anyone who's suffering at the moment, here is a little encouragement. I went to the dentist a couple of times in the first week, which was a good thing to do, except that if you have children or anything else to do that gets very impractical. So, having got some antibiotics, I spent several days taking lots of painkillers (too scared to try any home remedies in case I did something stupid!) and a week and a half after the original operation it started to get better. Just over two weeks now, and everything's finally healing properly! So don't worry, it's horrible at the time but with a little help from your dentist, it won't last too long!

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  • by grittygurl on November 1st, 2008

    grittygurl

    None of the side effects of clove oil (also called eugenol) are as nasty as the nagging pain of dry socket, but be warned that JUST A DAB WILL DO YA. If there is enough oil on the cotton or gauze pack that it drips, that is WAY too much. Don't freak, an overdose will not cause any major problems, but the taste is unpleasent (rather clove-like) and if too much is swallowed it causes nausia. If any oil gets on your face during the process just rinse it off with cool water and apply some face lotion to stop the burning right away. No it does not burn in the dry socket once you pack it in there. For some reason it feels really good. You can leave it in for at least one minute, or I've heard up to a whole day if you wish. It really is powerful stuff, works great, and it's nothing to be afraid of. Even if you do get a little nausia and burning face it doesn't last long unlike the dry socket that nags and aches for ever and ever... ohhhh it sooo sucks!

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  • by Anonymous on January 2nd, 2008

    Anonymous

    I am generally not one to post up comments online... HOWEVER... After discovering this I had to post it up, in hopes that it would help someone out.

    About 2 hours ago I was busy scouring the internet for any glimmer of hope for dry socket relief. It was the most painful thing that I have ever felt. I was taking Vicodin ES, alternating with Tylenol 3 and taking an antibiotic. Even still, the pain was not subsiding. I was using ice packs, warm rags and rinsing with salt water - - nothing helped.

    I finally came across this forum (and several others) that discussed the use of Clove Oil. I was hesitant at first, because I was certain that my dentist would have informed me of something that could provide immediate comfort from this horrific pain. My mouth had been throbbing for 2 days, and while the dentist packing my socket didn't hurt, it didn't help much either.

    So, I set out to Whole Foods to pick up a bottle of Clove Oil (which was called Clove Extract at the store). I came home and rinsed my mouth out again with salt water. Then I took the dropper out of the clove oil bottle and rinsed it. I filled a glass with luke warm water, and began sucking the water from the glass up into the dropper, and shooting it into my socket. I was very surprised to see the amount of debris that was coming out. As gross as it sounds, the rinsing alone was not getting to the bottom of the socket, and slimy debris was stuck down inside.

    Once finished with the socket cleaning (took about 15 minutes), I first tried to pack the socket in with a cotton swab and gauze, but it was causing pressure- and it hurt. So, I took the Clove Oil, and put about 2 drops into the socket.

    About 5 minutes later, R E L I E F!!!!

    I could not believe it! Not only did the horrible pain because a barely noticeable soreness, but it lasted! It has been over an hour and a half, I have not added any more clove oil, and I am nearly pain free!

    IF YOU HAVE DRY SOCKET, PLEASE TRY THIS. It is important to clean out the socket more thoroughly than just rinsing. Apply a couple drops of the clove and you will not regret it.

    I am so glad that I stumbled upon this advise. Thank you, and I apologize for the rambling!!

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  • by camallama on March 10th, 2005

    camallama

    I just got all 4 pulled last friday...and i have a dry socket. i've pretty much just been rinsing with salt water and used up my vicodin...i keep a bottle of Motrin in my lunch box, just in case i need it. if i'm at home, i just take IBuprofen. it lasts a lot longer than the vicodin did. and it's not as intense (won't make you go loopy, more able to do things). as far as i know, that's about all you can do...as for the smell and the taste, you just gotta wait that out...and stock up on mints. :) hehe.

    also, i read the entry on cotton balls and aspirin. if you do decide to try it, i would use gauze instead, because cotton usually has little fuzzies sticking out, and i would hate for that to get stuck in there.

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  • by Katefan0 on December 19th, 2004

    Katefan0

    I had this happen to me with a wisdom tooth (in fact, am in the process of having it happen). What I did is take about 3-4 aspirin, mash them up with a little water to make a paste. Then take a cotton ball and roll it around until it's completely soaked. Wring it just a little bit, so it won't be so bitter and sour in your mouth, and pack it lightly in your socket. Don't shove it in there, but enough that the hole is sealed off. It started working for me in about 5-10 minutes and I felt so much better. I've noticed I have to change it every several hours because the cotton gets mushy or moves around to the wrong position, or after I eat sometimes. But it does work. Good luck.

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  • by aeasterly on November 9th, 2007

    aeasterly

    I currently am suffering from dry socket from a tooth that I had pulled just yesterday! I tried to do the clove oil and although it does help someone should have told me that a little goes a LONG way!! I soaked my piece of gauze in the clove oil and it felt great in my extraction site but it felt like acid on my tounge and the inside of my cheek!! I just hope that it helps to heal this soon before I end up overdosing on my pain killers!

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  • by Denise on November 1st, 2007

    Denise

    I had a tooth pulled 11 days ago after a botched filling and failed root canal. It was a huge tooth at the back (next to wisdom tooth) my dentist told me to keep the gauze in for 45 minutes and never metioned anything about sucking through a straw. That evening I got a milkshake to try and relieve the pain with the cold drink. I have since developed dry socket. I have never had pain like it in my life. I have had 4 days of my work, i have lost nearly a stone in weight and I have been to mt dentist almsot everyday. I am presently takig an antibiotic as my gums around it are infected. I was taking painkillers with codeine that were strong but making me sick, ibruphen in the best and keep going to your dentist so he or she can monitor it

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  • by Jackie on October 24th, 2007

    Jackie

    I don't have an answer, but I am also suffering from dry socket. I had three wisdom teeth pulled on Friday. The bottom one is the problem. I have had dry socket before. The oral surgeon packed it with medicated gauze. It was incredibly painful and I don't want to go back for that same treatment with this dry socket. If I try the clove oil, putting drops directly into the hole, are there any negative side-effects?

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  • by ranfan on October 7th, 2007

    ranfan

    I don't know if I have it or not I had 3 wisdom teeth and 2 other teeth removed on tuesday and it's now sunday night. I haven't been hurting that bad but the pain seems to be worsening as time goes my jaw is really stiff, and there is bone exposed but it has been the whole time.... I need help i anyone knows anything et me know

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  • by john potter on May 6th, 2008

    john potter

    it is now the fourth day after my extraction and i have suffered all day with a pounding dull ache in my lower left jaw. the gum around the socket doesnt look red but the hole looks half empty and tastes awful! with mucus inside! took pain killers and still throbbed, read this comments and i feel great now!

    rinsed it out with warm salty water with a dropper then dipped a cotton bud in clove oil and inserted it into the socket then put two drops of oil in the socket. 3 hours later and i still feel fine!

    tip, dont drink alcohol for at least a week after extraction.

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  • by Ender is back.. And slightly confused. on October 24th, 2007

    Ender is back.. And slightly confused.

    Wash the socket out using warm water in a plastic syringe. After that, bundle up a piece of cotton, soak it in warm water, and apply oil of cloves to it, and insert it into the socket. You should feel relief pretty quickly. Change it once or twice a day.

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  • by BBLONDE on June 19th, 2009

    BBLONDE

    i have now had 2 dry sockets after 2 extractions in the space of 2 months...I can honestly say I have never experienced such pain (and I am a mother!)...the best piece of advice I was given was to use anti-inflammatories (ie. brufen or voltarol). These helped alot more than paracetamol/aspirin altho i have to say at one point i was taking so much of everything in desperation i thought my kidneys would fail!!! I am getting the idea that most people will need something much stronger than over the counter medication. Clove oil certainly helps but diluted ie.2-3drops to half a tsp.of olive oil soaked in gauze....anything more will burn your mouth. I feel I ought to start some kind of helpline on this subject as there are an awful lot of desperate people out there!!!

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  • by dcrmum on September 30th, 2007

    dcrmum

    I'd go straight back to the dentist. Boy do I feel sorry for you. I had the same thing once, talk about freaking agony, and it only gets worse.

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  • by JenniferB on October 9th, 2009

    JenniferB

    I have been suffering for 6 days straight with the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. I have been crying a lot. I've called the oral surgeons office three times and they keep saying to just take my meds. I was taking so many that I was getting anxiety and acid reflux. I ended up going to the ER last night and got a shot in the rear that allowed me to get some sleep and a scrip for Percocets (which I'm kind of afraid to take.) The doc said oral surgeons and dentists are pricks that don't want to do the extra paperwork for return visits. They refuse to bring me back in. I'm on my way to Walgreens now to get some of that clove oil. Wish me luck. First week of the quarter and I haven't done a thing...

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  • by wiggle worm on June 18th, 2009

    wiggle worm

    been 8 days since my bottom wisdom was removed...i have not gotten less smarter(haha) but the pain is horrible. i have returned twice to the doctor. i decided that i will be my owm dentist to fix my own mouth. clove oil seems to be the talk of the page so i am gonna give it a try and hopes that maybe the pain will stop long enough for me to even get some sleep! thank you to any who already asked the same question as me.

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  • by marblearch on January 11th, 2009

    marblearch

    Just tried the clove oil technique but can't get the gauze or anything past the incredibly sore tissue around the edge of the socket. Does seem like a dental goldmine as I am having to visit everyday.

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  • by pepprgurl on September 14th, 2008

    pepprgurl

    I developed pain the 2nd day after having an extraction and thought my jaw was still sore from all the shots I had however, my symptoms fit those of a dry socket. It is the weekend so I cannot get in to see my dentist so I have being using ambesol which didnt really help. I went to the Dollar Tree today and found some generic oragel and now most of the severe pain is gone. I was going to the dentist in the morning to have him pack it but I believe unless I am in severe pain again in the morning, I am just going to keep using the oragel and just keep rinsing it out periodically in warm salt water.

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  • by Templarknight on June 15th, 2008

    Templarknight

    Yes!! However the healing time is different for everyone. I had my bottom left wisdom tooth extracted a week ago. After 4 days I realized I had "Dry Socket" I had an unbearable pain. I used to breakdance for a living and I have broken legs, fingers, my nose, torn muscles and these don't even come close to the pain that I experienced. Yes, just like the rest I fell into the fake caring Dentist and had some medication gaze stuffed into the hole for about 50 dollars each time for 4 days striaght. until I read online about "CLOVE Oil" . it really does work , but don't use too much or it will seep out of the hole onto you soft cheek tissue and burn it. Not badly, but it's uncomfortable. Do NOt mix aspirin and Clove oil together into a paste. One or the other. I tried and the whole side of my mouth turned white and stung for about 2 hours. So fill the hole with one or the other. I choose a little gaze with the Clove Oil. Let me tell you what happened then. The swelling became so bad that it blocked my airway and I was rushed to the ER where they cut 3 small holes in the roof of my mouth and 300 cc's of puss came rushing out. In other words. A Massive Abcess. I didn't smoke at all, no straw , followed all the rules and yet this so called extraction almost killed me. Do not get your wisdom tooth removed just because the dentist tells you too. They play stupid as much as they can. This way they make money from the injured . Cash grab and they do it all the time. The only time you should get them removed is when they act up more than 2 times a year or are causing another medical complication. I now am a professional singer and I have been unable to make money for 2 weeks and the hole still has not healed.I have had to cancel a complete tour. Think my Dentist is going to pay for that? ..lol...NOT!! I will try backing off the Clove Oil to let it heal. I hate this, I am unhappy, I talk to nobody,I am a recluse, I haven't eatin any solids for 2 weeks now. I simply do no like dentists. Take the power in you own hands as much as you possibly can because no cares as much as you do!!!!


    p.s. for those of you that can't sleep in the beginning stages of this hell...try sleeping with two pillows and put your face in the middle of the two face down in the crack so you can breathe. This helps the flow of the puss come out the hole instead of it flowing into your cheeks and head when you lay on your back. Much less pain and swelling. That's my experience anyway.

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  • by Anonymous on September 30th, 2007

    Anonymous

    I had two wisdom teeth and a lower molar removed. After a week of pain and small bleeding I finally went back to my dentist after I kept oozing a foul odor liquid. It's disgusting an embarassing.

    My dentist packed the socket with clove paste. I had the stuff in my socket for 6 hours and it was gone the next day. Waste of time.

    It's been two weeks I still bleed slightly in my saliva after removing food that get stuck in the hole.

    Now my lymph node is swelled up on the opposite side of my extraction site. I'm still in pain and I don't know what to do next.

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  • by Psalmuel on October 3rd, 2010

    Psalmuel

    Vegetables, curry, ginger, garlic, olive oil, turmeric, cider vinegar, mustard, honey, cumin,....
    on a daily basis, in favorite recipes,,,,,,,,are all too awesome......Taking Centrum Max, Vitamin C, Flaxseed Oil tab, ACIDOLPHILUS (so as to prevent Urinary Tract or Yeast Infections from ALL those ANTIBIOTICS), ............ALL SEEM TO BE A BIG PRIORITY WHILE HEALING.

    Meds help, ........(I took Hydrocodone for the first couple days after the oral surgery, and then went onto the Tylenol w/Codeine 3, Celebrex (anti inflammatory...Motrin does similar, but do NOT take both), Skalaxin (for a muscle relaxant,,,,but I have tons of ortho injuries as well, so the Celebrex and Skalaxin helps my entire body's pain, including the oral surgery lower molar extraction pain).

    AFTER 5 days, the surgeon suggests the syringe with water in it, to squirt TWICE a day only, for 6 weeks, so that no gunk gets caught down in the socket while the socket heals up....no one needs food underneath the tissue and healing, after the wound is closing up and healing, he says.

    I was told emphatically NO HOT FOODS for the first 2 to 5 days after the surgery.....ONLY COLD ICE PACKS AND COLD FOODS.........So this is a perfect time to enjoy frozen grapes and ice cream !!!! (I thought I was having my tonsils (which were taken out as a child) out ''all over again''' when I got into all the FROZEN YOGURT. Might as well TREAT OURSELVES TO THE VERY BEST FOODS AND YUMMIES THAT FIT THE CAUSE........Why suffer mentally when we don't have to....so SPOIL OURSELVES!

    When choosing not to take the pain killers , I went with a SHOT OF WHISKEY, without taking any medications to conflict with the alcohol......The nuns (lo, God! , the nuns) gave me shots of WHISKEY when I arrived at their convent for a visit,,,,,,end up having to stay thru xmas due to pneumonia.......i was a mighty sick puppy, and a youngen indeed during those times thirty years ago. (I , myself, prefer RED WINE for my heart, and to ease pain like root canal infections, and tooth extractions, without any pain pills that day of course,,,,,,never mix drugs and alcohol...the courtesy of the RULE).

    My biggest mistake, I think , was while following the directions of the dentist, with the pain killers and antibiotics, I on the following day after the surgery, did tons of laundry.......a BIG MISTAKE,,,,,,,,,for I WOKE UP the socket with pops and pain....! Sounds like I should've rested the first several days, but lo, I needed clean clothes and bedding. Wouldn't suggest too much physical activity at all after that surgery!

    Haven't tried the clove oil, cuz all this other stuff seems to be good for me.........but the dentist .........Did Tell Me to Use ICE PACKS EVERY 20 MINUTES,,,,,(A bag of FROZEN VEGETABLES IN THEIR BAG REALLY WORKS BEST FOR AN ICE PACK,,,,,ESPECIALLY FROZEN MIXED OR FROZEN PEAS........Then I just stick the veggies back in the freezer, and twenty minutes later, I take out a frozen ice pack, and I use it for twenty minutes, and then take it off for 20 minutes, and then I go back to the Frozen Vegetable Pack for 20 minutes.....

    The dentist suggested for me to keep the ice on and off like this for the first two days. This was very important.....like I said, after the novacaine wore off, I used HYDROCODONE for one day only, and then went with the Tylenol w/codeine #3 from there on out......When I drank alcohol for the pain, I DID NOT TAKE DRUGS with it.....

    After 6 days, (from the surgery date), I will use the syringe with warm water , twice a day, for SIX WEEKS, so as to keep the socket clean, while it heals and closes up.......I , too, received two STITCHES, which will dissappear on their own , when my mouth is good and ready automatically to let them go.

    Be GOOD TO YOURSELVES AND SPOIL YOURSELVES WITH THE BEST DIET POSSIBLE, AND WITH ALL THAT FROZEN YOGURT.......AND FROZEN FRUIT BARS, FROZEN GRAPES, ETC ETC....AND ALL YOUR HEALING VEGETABLE SPICE DISHES, WHICH ARE SO EXCELLENT FOR OUR MIND, BODY, AND SOULS.

    May life be with us all, thru all of this surgery process and its healing!

    For LIFE IS GOOD!

    (Enjoyed sharing, thank you for your write-ups and concerns)

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  • by Psalmuel on October 3rd, 2010

    Psalmuel

    Drink ALOT OF WATER ALL, don't forget!

    Antibiotics and Healing need FRESH WATER.

    Try GREEN TEA , too, but don't forget the WATER, it's
    most IMPORTANT.

    Also, I make drinks, with green tea, 7 Up, Cranberry Juice, and ORAC SUPER 7
    HIGH ANTIOXIDANT (Concentrated Blend of High Orac Berry and Fruit Extracts....
    I use as a Dietary Supplement in my (green tea, 7 Up, Cranberry Juice, Frozen Yogurt
    drink blend, and I add ONLY 2 TABLESPOONS of this SUPPLEMENT to my healthy drink above).
    I only take this supplement ONCE a Day with 2 Tablespoons of supplement added as I stated.
    Or if I want TWO Healthy Drinks per day, then I only use ONE Tablespoon of the supplement
    per fruit tea 7 Up drink mixture with the frozen berries added along with frozen yogurt.....
    BUT DON'T USE A STRAW FOR THIS, FOR YOUR SURGERICAL TOOTH HAS MAJOR TROUBLE WITH STRAW SUCKING........JUST DRINK THE TOP NOTCH CONNACTION , SIPPING IT AND ENJOYING IT SO.

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  • by logancolerose on February 20th, 2011

    logancolerose

    I've had dry socket twice now, the second time it got infected. I never wanted to pack the socket with anything that might delay healing so I dip a Que tip in clove oil and apply to the socket and suck on it for a sec then gently spit. Works instantly. Before you apply rinse with salt water, i can usually feel the stuff coming out like food n such. The pain will lessen as soon as you rinse as well. So you will know when you've got it clean.

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  • by Tago22 on February 24th, 2011

    Tago22

    thanx for your helpful tips, but sadly, I have read them all a bit too late, the pain is now at its worst and I am in terrible agony, my dentist simply told me not to smoke after the extraction, nothing else, no proper after-care. I expected the extraction to cure the pain, but i was sorely mistaken, I wanna die, I used up my clove oil before having gone for the extraction and I can't find it anywhere, I can't sleep, that's why I am writing this, It's been a week and a half, I've lost so 5kg's of weight, I'm hungry, I feel like I'm gonna OD on pain meds, I really don't have money to go back to the dentist. I'm just gonna give up and die (don't take that seriously). This is by far the worst pain I have ever experienced in all my years. Dry socket sucks, the dentist i visited sucks, EVERYTHING sucks...

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  • by Psalmuel on October 3rd, 2010

    Psalmuel

    How about a shot of whiskey? (with no pain medication of course)

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  • by Psalmuel on October 3rd, 2010

    Psalmuel

    How about a shot of whiskey? (Every ten hours)

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  • by maryfitch on May 8th, 2010

    maryfitch

    I just had my molar 7 (bottom next to wisdom) extracted yesterday. I was surprised at the grand canyon left, not to mention she cut away about 1/2 an inch of my gum. What do I do about keeping food & debris out of the huge hole that's left? I read above about tweezers & syringes- is this to be part of my new daily routine for the rest of my life? I don't have the $3,000. for a dental implant. Also, I'm afraid to do anything at all right now, because I don't want to develop dry socket- although I probably will- I was told not to even rinse, but I wasn't told for how long. I had to have this done at a clinic, so there's no follow up care either. Any advice is appreciated!

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  • by Lesley_S on August 22nd, 2010

    Lesley_S

    I had my two lower wisdom teeth out last Tuesday and I'm climbing the walls. I can't pack the site of wound as I've had stitches. Can I still use clove oil?

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  • by catbag on October 2nd, 2010

    catbag

    Share your answer...

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  • by catbag on October 2nd, 2010

    catbag

    I had lower right wisdom extracted a week back. The written post-surgery instructions I then received from the day surgery mentioned, amongst other things, rinsing with warm saltwater but * NB do NOT say no rinsing for 24 hours after surgery.

    Pain and swelling peaked two days after extraction, swelling went down thereafter but pain increased. Went back to the surgeon, who gave antibiotics. When I suggested dry socket ( from Internet research ) he more or less dismissed the idea. Pain got worse so had to get Zapain high concentration Codeine Co-Codemol tabs.

    Just today pain and nausea unbearable & punching through the extra strength painkillers, every time I eat or drink it flares into agony..... so I thought this is no infection and shone a torch in my mouth to the extraction site & guess what? Yep, my jawbone is exposed = Dry Socket.

    Rinsing post wizzie extraction is contra-indicated for first 24 hours so why isn't this mentioned on the surgery's post op info sheet? I suggest it is precisely because they know rinsing straight away increases risk of healing blood clot being dislodged, resulting in DS and more money for them in repeat visits for packing.
    No matter how much the patient suffers, all these pricks think about is their own pockets.
    They should be exposed for robbing the NHS by creating unnecessary work that benefits their bank accounts but which entails extra suffering for their patients.

    How do these bastards sleep?

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  • by Diana_F5802 on March 2nd, 2011

    Diana_F5802

    I feel for all of you, I had a dry socket a year ago....it was the most painful experience of my life--the doctor told me it is like going through childbirth without any medication. No kidding. I think I would rather do that then go through this again. Well, I did find the clove oil helped a bit--I had to keep putting the gauze in or going back to the dentist to have them replace what falls out. Frustrating. Cried a lot. Needless to say-I just had another one removed yesterday--terrified to go! I am so scared to eat now, drink or anything at all. All I do is concentrate on how not to have that happen again! I am starving-only taking a bit of liquid to get pills down...so praying a lot this will work and I can prevent it. Apparently it can even happen 5 days after--I am on my second day---think I can go without eating or drinking for 2-4 more day! :S
    I will do whatever I have to--
    D

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  • by aspgirl21 on March 2nd, 2011

    aspgirl21

    I had to go back for a check-up after I had teeth pulled, in order for the gaps to be packed, because this is what can prevent getting a painful or infected dry socket. They packed the gaps with clove dressing and told me to leave it there. It didn't do much except leave a strong taste of cloves in my mouth (which didn't go away unless I ate chocolate, LOL), but eventually, it slowly began to heal up and the dressing worked its way out. There's still a small gap, but not big enough to worry about. Don't be afraid to ask your dentist to do something about the gaps, because it is their job, after all. They really should pack it for anyone who's just had a tooth pulled, because it prevents infection. Any dentist who refuses to do so shouldn't be a dentist, in my opinion.

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  • by Anna Norris on February 28th, 2007

    Anna Norris

    For starters aspirin can cause the pain to go away, but can also cause other problems if applied directly to the skin. Generally what happens with dry socket is the blood clot is loosened in some manner and now the bone is exposed or the skin is separating from the bone. Any hard swishing or gargling can cause any new blood clots forming to dislodge, any existing blood clot to dislodge, or cause food particles to get impacted farther in to the extraction site. I have 2 dry sockets at this moment and I tried EVERYTHING, I am allergic to aspirin so I couldn't use it, but I was given the strongest pain relieving meds and they wouldn't work. The only relief was from using anti-inflammatory OTC meds in a high dosage such as 700mg and ice packs and even then it would bother me to eat, etc. I finally broke down and went to the dentist and the paste he uses worked wonders. It hurts to get the socket cleaned out but once the paste is applied its almost instant gratification. I had to go 2 days in a row, but after the 2nd day it last MUCH longer and I can go days with out any paste. Dry socket can take up to a month or longer to heal. At least if you go to a dentist you confirm you have dry socket and can receive proper treatment. And FYI I am not being charged for the applications of the paste. You should ask if they charge because they shouldn't being its a condition resulting from the work the dentist did. Try it out. Good Luck.

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  • by bahra22 on March 2nd, 2007

    bahra22

    See previous answer about Ibuprofen and oragel. sometimes our schedule won't permitt several dentist visits during the week.

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  • by ncworkingmom on July 29th, 2007

    ncworkingmom

    I had a dry socket about 8 years ago. The hygentist at my dentist office recommended Oil of Clove. This is what they soak the stuff they pack it with in the dentist office. You can either get it at a health food store. Once the dentist stopped repacking the dry socket, I would just place a drop in the whole and it would make a world of difference.

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  • by Anonymous on September 9th, 2007

    Anonymous

    Time. Someone should work on something because WOW! Incredible pain. You can only treat the symptoms -like incredible pain in jaw, ear and mouth with pain killers, antibiotics, and steroids. Yes, steroids. Read on.
    I had my wisdom teeth out almost 3 weeks ago and I am just now recovering from a dry socket. I am 30. Female. I am on birth control which is said to sometimes cause dry socket.
    Here is what I learned from the experience. Pain killers, if taken long enough, start to lose their effect. So don't worry - you are not getting worse. You need a different prescription.
    The tobacco type stuff they used to pack the socket was not all it cracked up to be for me...maybe lasted an hour or two.
    I tried the Clove Oil application. I cut up pieces of gauze and dropped some clove oil on it and set it on top of the socket. Make sure you can get it out. It was relief at points but it ended up burning my tissue and my surgeon said it can prevent the area from healing as fast as it could and it can burn the tissue down in the socket that is trying to heal. But sometimes I needed the relief while waiting for my next dose of pain killers to kick in or when my stomach hurt too much to take any more pills.
    The swelling for me was not letting up and they told me that was what was causing so much of my pain. I started with antibiotics to help with this and infection, but we had to go a step further in 48 hours because it didn't reduce the swelling. So, I started on Steroids - 7 day pack. INCREDIBLE RELIEF. I was scared to take it. I mean come on STEROIDS? BUT OMG it provided me with so much relief after being in pain from the dry socket for almost 2 weeks. The steroids were amazing because it worked very shortly after taking the first dose. Who knew? Finally, I'm coming around to my normal self.
    So, take those pills and set an alarm for the next dose because the pain comes out of nowhere and eat when taking them. Even in the middle of the night. Believe me. I had a very bad morning after a night of popping pills and no food. It is worth the effort to get up and eat a pudding cup.
    This was just my experience. My sympathy to anyone currently in the height of pain. You will get through it!

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  • by Anonymous on March 15th, 2005

    Anonymous

    No, when theres a dry socket, that means the blood clot formed in the extraction site has been removed somehow and bone is exposed. Your dentist should have given you post operative instuctions such as, no sucking motion like cigarette smoking or sucking through a straw after the extraction. If I were you I would return to the dentist who did the extraction. They should be able to perform a procedure which they place a medicated packet in the socket.

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  • by bahra22 on January 13th, 2005

    bahra22

    Dry socket is the worst pain I've ever felt. Worse than giving birth I dare say. Lasting for days and days. I found some relief with this routine. 400mg Ibuprofen and Oragel (generic) to the sight. I don't need to put the gel in the hole, on the gums outside the hole is fine. Rinse daily with salt water. The Ibuprofin worked better and lasted longer than Vicodin or Tylenol with Codeine. I also took a antibiotic prescribed by the dentist. The rinse is going to hurt. you have to swish it around over the hole to remove food and kill bacteria. ( CAUTION: Be sure you have dry socket, because if your clot is still in place, this could remove it.) You have to choose at what time in your routine it will be most tolerable. As soon as I feel the pain coming back I take the Ibuprofin and apply the gel. Although this controls the pain and I don't go to the dentist everyday to have it packed, I will have a follow-up visit. Let me know how it works. GOOD LUCK

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  • by Stuart_P on March 8th, 2011

    Stuart_P

    I had a dental emergency appointment on xmas eve 2011 as my wisdom/moler tooth needed to be extracted its now 8/may/2011 and i still have a dry socket, been to the dentist a few times since and had the dry socket packed with a dissolveable substance soaked in clove oil, i did feel some pain relief for a day or two the same throbbing pain came back as soon as the packing dissolved or fell out.
    We are into the 3rd month now and i still cant bare anything cold near the socket. A guy at work says his daughter is a dental nurse and she says a dry socket CANNOT heal itself without antibiotics so im making another appointment today with the dentist. its an endless fight but be warned if your dentist says they are going to squirt some liquid into your socket to clean it out before they pack it GRIP the chair, tense your body as your going far,far beyond any pain barrier as they keep this liquid in the fridge. on a scale of 1 to 10 the pain hits 1,000 and you seriously can feel your heard smashing through your chest! i went blood red and nearly leaped out of the chair in Pure pain and shock.

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  • by katnick21 on June 19th, 2011

    katnick21

    Just tried the clove oil remedy, and it works wonders! I dipped one of those tiny cotton balls in water and then into the clove oil. Take the clove oil cotton ball and gently dab it into the tooth socket, my God, sweet relief!!!!! Make sure you continue with your other routines, such as taking motrin, antibiotics and rinsing mouth out with salt water after eating

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  • by Ashley_C9201 on September 14th, 2011

    Ashley_C9201

    I am at the end of day 2 after having impacted upper right wisdom pulled. so far I am fine. I really agree with other comments about packing up on nutritious foods and rest BEFORE going in to get it pulled. I have been fortunate enough to have a juicer, so the first couple days I have been juicing a lot of vegetables, feeding my body, even though I miss solid food. I have been strict about NOT have ANY bubble/carbonated beverages, alcohol, very hot, or acidic or spicy foods which could get your blood pressure up or scrubb the tender gum area a little too much. I have stayed pretty much in bed for two days, and although I went thru all my gauze and 4 tea bags from the bleeding, within about 7 hours after extraction the bleeding stopped. Im still paranoid about "popping" a cork on those blood clots tho, as the dry socket sounds horrible. DOes anyone know when you are BEyond the point of dry socket?...
    I have been avoiding chewing if at all possible to only eat liquid diet...but getting harder...hand in there guys!the grossest is swallowing all that nasty saliva stuff! eaw!

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  • by fgp@dentalsuppliessotre.com on May 24th, 2012

    fgp@dentalsuppliessotre.com

    Dry socket takes a while to heal...you can always use over the counter medication like Eugenol or other products but its best treated by a dentist to help with the pain associated..dry socket paste is used by dentist to help you heal.... Always keep your mouth clean, use antiseptic (eugenol) and mouth wash till you can see a dentist. I know this is not an immediate answer for stopping the pain but again please follow your dentist recommendations.

    www.dentalsuppliesstore.com

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  • by sue58 on May 1st, 2010

    sue58

    by sue 2nd may 2010
    iv read everyones comments re dry sockets. I'm suffering at moment,just had 2 teeth taken out 4days ago.I visited dentist yesterday,who packed teeth and was told i will probably have to visit again.I can't afford to keep paying(wish i was a dentist, they must be minted). All these tips are a God send to me.THANKS EVERYONE

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