How to Prevent Dry Socket
To prevent dry sockets, protect the blood clot by doing rest, gentle rinsing, drinking water, eating soft foods, and keeping your head elevated. One of the most important things in preventing dry sockets is making sure you don’t smoke/vape, use straws, spit forcefully, rinse vigorously, eat hard/crunchy/spicy foods, use alcoholic mouthwash, and do not do any activity that takes a lot of physical strength for the first week.
Some things you should do:
– Rest: take it east for at least 24–48 hours; elevate your head when lying down.
– Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water, but carefully without suction.
– Eat soft foods: Yogurt, applesauce, pudding, soup and mashed potatoes.
– Gentle hygiene: Gently brush other teeth and tongue: after 24 hours, use prescribed antibacterial rinses.
– Follow what the dentist told you: take medication and follow all post-operation instructions.
Some things you should NOT do:
– No Suction: Avoid straws, spitting, and vigorous rinsing.
– No smoking/vaping/tobacco: At least 7 days before you start again.
– Avoid certain foods: No hard, crunchy, spicy, or small seeds/grains.
– No alcohol/carbonated drinks: Avoid them for several days.
– No Strenuous activity: Heavy lifting or exercise raises blood pressure and risks bleeding.
– Don’t Touch the site: Don’t poke the socket with your tongue or fingers.
– By avoiding these actions and focusing on rest and gentle care, you significantly lower your risk of developing a painful dry socket.
At the Smile Team, we provide our clients with the best treatment options for them so book a consultation with Dr. Abid Hidayat today. We are open Mondays to Saturdays and speak GUJARATI, HINDI, URDU, TAGALOG and ARABIC. You can reach our family dental care office in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, by calling 416-546-5599.