text: what is ""dry socket"? i just had a wisdom tooth pulled yesterday and i keep reading about dry socket. what is it? how can i prevent it? in a patient with a dry socket, blood does not fill up the extraction socket or the blood clot is lost. the gums can not grow over the extraction socket because there's nothing to grow over and the hole remains open. this opening causes a constant dull throbbing pain and the patient can often have a foul smelling breath and bad taste in the mouth. ear pain is another possible dry socket symptom.            it's called a dry socket because the hole, or socket, that the tooth used to fit into becomes dry. it begins hurting about three days after oral surgery. unfortunately, the pain lasts about a week after it begins. the dental name is acute alveolar osteitis. acute means all of a sudden. alveolar is the name of the bone that supports teeth. -itis means inflamed and osteo- means bone. osteitis means bone inflammation. acute alveolar osteitis means sudden inflammation of the bone that supports a tooth.            dentists don't know exactly what causes a dry socket. it occurs more with lower teeth than upper teeth and more with females than males. the problem occurs more often after difficult extractions. it may be that forceful pushing against the wall of the socket when the tooth is being removed causes the walls of the tooth socket to become crushed. this prevents bleeding into the socket because the blood vessels have been crushed closed. the lack of blood then causes severe pain.            anything that dislodges the clot can cause a dry socket. forceful spitting or sucking though a straw can pull a clot completely out of its socket. patients should wait a day before rinsing with warm salt water to avoid dissolving the new blood clot. when salt water rinsing, spit gently to avoid pressure. carbonated beverages should be avoided because they may bubble the clot out. alcoholic drinks can dry out the blood clot and prevent healing. avoid smoking for a few days after dental extractions because smoking can disturb clot formation. patients who have recently had oral surgery should avoid anything that may irritate the socket or anything that may cause the clot from being dislodged. follow our oral surgery post operative instructions carefully to avoid dry socket treatment.