Hi Pennye,
I am in the dental field and can offer you some information about your situation.
First, stop smoking. Seriously the carcinogens in the tobacco can completely disrupt the healing and contribute to infection in the jawbone. Again the chemicals in the tobacco deprive the oxygen level and reduce the number of red blood cells which are imperative for the purpose of healing.
The ONLY reason the dentist will tell you to quit smoking for 4 days is because he knows you probably will not comply and if he can get you to not smoke for a day or two, he'll take it. However, that does not mean it is okay to smoke while this extraction site is healing. The same thing applies to drinking soda. That too should be avoided until the site has healed closed. Ideally both of these things should be eliminated completely for the sake of your overall health.... not preaching... just sayin'.
The gel foam that was placed in the socket has long dissolved. If what you are tasting is salty or bitter, it could be that you have sinus communication which means there could be a sinus perforation. This is commonly seen with patients that smoke because the thin membrane that covers the sinus wall up inside the open socket can easily tear from the inhalation of the cigarette. I think that is what the dentist is basically referring to when he says the "scab". If this is what you have and continue to smoke, this can become a larger perforation and very difficult to repair.
Your sinus problems are partially due to your smoking. The neti pot will not offer any long term relief so long as you smoke.
If you can stop smoking at least until the site closes over completely which may be a few weeks or longer, that would be helpful. If you continue to have this drainage and taste you should see the surgeon again, but he will most likely tell you that you need to stop smoking or he will not be able to fix it.
Bryanna
Quote:
Originally Posted by pennye
HI all,
Thank you for reading my post. 9 Days ago I went to a dentist I have seen in the past and had tooth number 13 extracted. The tooth had a prior root canal over 10 yrs ago and prior to the extraction it broke at the gum line. After massive anxiety I got the tooth pulled, surgically,. After the extraction he put gelfoam in the hole and stitches. I am by the booth with directions, didnt smoke for 48 hrs, no soda for first 4 days, day 2 started salt water rinses, soup only, ect. Day 3 I wake up with extreme throbbing in the site, NO PAIN, I called the dentist he said it was natural healing. Day 4 pain was getting a little more, thinking why? Day 6 the stitches came out, big hole now. By day 7 I was back to taking advil every 3 hrs and I called the dentist office and told her I needed to be checked out, thinking dry socket. Seen him and I as was asking him why he told me I am a smoker, I said you said I could after 48 hrs, I have had a draining taste in my mouth this whole time, I asked him about that, his explanation is : Because you smoke the heat is causing the scab inside the site to heat up and what I am tasting is the scab melting,. WTH? Today is day 9 I noticed this morning and last night while rinsing with the salt water, very diluted, that a little tiny bit of blood is dripping out. Is that what I am tasting? I have chronic bad sinus year round have to nedi pot daily and steam daily constant post nasal drip. I am wondering if the gel foam is what I am tasting, my pain is way down no advil today its in the afternoon. I am drinking alot of water and soft foods still, brushing gently. Any Ideas? Sorry for the long post.......ps, if I would have know this was going to happen and so long in pain I think I would have kept the broken non pain tooth.....lol
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