Dry socket can be extremely painful and unbearable. Find out how you can use a tea bag for dry socket to ease the condition.
What Is A Dry Socket?
Dry socket is also known as alveolar osteitis, a painful condition that can happen following dental extractions. Under normal circumstances, a blood clot forms at the extraction sites. This clot serves as a protective barrier that covers the underlying bone and nerve endings found in the tooth socket. The clot also provides the foundation for the generation of new bone and soft tissue. Once the tooth extracts from the socket, a thick fold of wire gauge is placed on that area to control the oozing blood. But when the blood clot fails to happen or dislodged before the tooth is healed, it causes a dry socket.
Symptoms:
- Severe pain in or around the extraction site.
- Empty looking dry socket. This happens because of the loss of blood clot in the extraction site.
- Bad breath.
- Unusual/unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Tea Bag For Dry Socket
Teabags may help control bleeding in a few ways. Biting down on a teabag puts pressure on the wound, and this pressure helps stop the bleeding. Tea also has a unique agent: tannins. According to a study, tannins contract the damaged tissue and capillaries, helping to stop the bleeding. Tea, and other plants that contain tannins, have been used for the cessation of bleeding since ancient times.
How To Use
Dip a tea bag in hot water for 5 minutes before taking it out and let it cool. It’s better to use black tea as it has natural anti-bacterial properties; besides, it reduces swelling and pain as well.
Once the teabag cools, keep it on the extraction site and shut your mouth tightly. Let it stay there for about 30 minutes before removing it. Once you remove it, do a quick water gargle and refrain from eating for an hour or so.
Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of Dry Socket
1. Clove Oil
Clove oil is an excellent treatment for dry socket. It can lessen pain and prevent infections from developing further due to its anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Procedure
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the socket.
- Take a small cotton swab and dip in clove oil.
- Place the swab on the socket for about a minute, then remove and rinse your mouth.
- Repeat this a few times throughout the day.
- Make sure that you don’t swallow the oil.
2. Salt Water
It is recommended to rinse your mouth with warm saltwater throughout the day as it can reduce any swelling or pain. Salt can even help prevent any infection.
Procedure
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water.
- Stir until salt dissolves and rinse gently 2-3 times a day after meals.
3. Cold Compress
You may experience pain in the jaw since its common among people with dry socket. The cold temperature causes a numbing effect on the nerves, which inevitably reduces pain.
Procedure
- Take a towel and dip it into cold water with ice cubes.
- Place the towel on the area of your face where you are experiencing pain.
- Hold the compress for about 15 minutes, damping the cloth at regular intervals.
- Do this 4-5 times a day to reduce pain and swelling.
Note: You must visit your dentist if the bleeding doesn’t stop even after trying several remedies.