[peggy1812]

I had a bottom molar extracted last Monday, which wasn't straight forward, I wasn't given much after care advice only rinse out with salt water which he never mentioned to wait 24hrs, by Wednesday the site looked a funny colour and my jaw line was swollen, I went back and another dentist gave me 7 days of 2 different antibiotics and said it was infected. I finished the course today and thought it was much better but I have noticed today a small purple blood clot which is moving in and out of the extraction site, am I likely to now get dry socket? I am a smoker but only started smoking again 2 days ago. Please help I've read so much on dry socket but only really states about losing blood clot 2-4 days after extraction!

[tickle]

Smoking causes a suction effect in the mouth, when you draw in the smoke, compromising the extraction site . Yes sounds like the blot clot wants to exit stage right from that suction effect. Also, tar and nicotine from the cigarette can infect the extraction.

[Ken Stephens]

I used to smoke so I do understand the need to do so, and to those not experienced with this, you do get to the point where nothing else matters other than your having a cigarette. So while people will tell you don't smoke, that's often not an option.

9 days is a long time to have a blood clot still there, mine disappeared after about 4 days and I don't smoke anymore. I even had dentures over the sockets most of the time and only took them out at night.

I think some people worry too much about dry sockets and I really don't think that there is much to worry about 9 days in, although if you still have the clot then that can mean the healing is progressing pretty slowly so I guess it's possible. There isn't a lot you can do about it other than leaving it alone though, but you should be fine.

[Ken Stephens]

By the way, I've no idea how the "tar and nicotine" can infect anything, these are not infectious agents, although smoking in general can cause inflammation and that will make it hurt a little more, or a lot more depending on the severity. So if you have to smoke in these situations, try to remember to draw less hard, because as tick says, it's the drawing action that can do the damage. In addition, don't chew on that side until it starts to heal more, as that can mess things up a lot more than smoking, as this area isn't really equipped to deal with chewing yet :)