If you recently had a tooth extracted and have developed a dry socket, then it is important for you to know that there are many things you can do to help alleviate your pain while your gums heal. Here are some time-tested tips to help you get some relief while your dry socket condition heals itself:

Tip: Rinse Your Mouth with Salt Water Frequently

Since salt works as a natural anesthetic and also helps to reduce pain in your mouth, you should rinse your mouth out with a warm salt water solution many times throughout the day. Whenever you eat something or feel pain, then you should rinse your mouth with salt water before you apply anything else to the area where you have developed the dry socket. The salt water rinse will help the area feel better, help prevent infections, and physically clean away any food particles that are trapped in your tooth's open socket.

Tip: Place a Cotton Ball with Clove Oil over the Dry Socket

Clove oil is one of the best things you can use for dental pain and to promote healing of your dry socket. You can purchase clove oil at any local pharmacy as an over-the-counter medication. Place a few drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and then place the cotton ball over the dry socket area. When you start to feel pain again, you should rinse with the salt water solution and then make a new cotton ball with clove oil and reapply it to your tooth's socket.

Tip: Use a Mixture of Salt and Lemon Juice

If the clove oil is not providing enough relief, then you can try a mixture of table salt and fresh lemon juice. Mix the two ingredients together to form a paste. Apply the paste directly to the dry socket and then cover the area with a clean cotton ball or sterile gauze pad. When the pain starts to reappear, repeat the process.

Tip: Apply an Ice Pack for Swelling or Pain in Your Cheek or Jaw

Finally, if your jaw is sore or your cheek is swelling from your tooth extraction and dry socket condition, then you can help to alleviate some of the pain and swelling by applying an ice pack directly on the outside of your face where you feel the pain. You should always wrap your ice pack in a towel so that your skin does not develop frostbite. 

For more information about recovering from a tooth extraction, contact a company like Renovo Endodontic Studio.