Health Tip: Dry Socket in Your Mouth

(HealthDayNews) -- Dry socket is the most common post-operative complication of a tooth extraction.

This painful condition occurs when the newly formed blood clot at the site of the extraction doesn''t form properly or is disturbed.

Here are tips from the U.S. Army Medical Department on how to help prevent dry socket:

• Avoid drinking through a straw; the suction will interfere with healthy clotting.
• Avoid smoking; it can contaminate the extraction site and also cause suction.
• Avoid spitting and excessive mouth rinsing.

-- Felicity Stone

Last Updated: March 31, 2006