A blood clot is formed in the socket where the tooth was present before it was extracted. With time, the gums tissue and bone replace the hole covered with blood clot as a part of the healing process. Sometimes, the blood clot dissolves or is washed away before the hole gets a chance to heal. This leaves the bone beneath the clot exposed to the saliva, food, air and germs in mouth. This leads to formation of a painful condition called the dry socket. This condition occurs more commonly in people with diabetes, women who are on birth control pills as well as smokers. The usual site of occurrence of a dry socket is the premolar or molar teeth. It’s very common to observe dry socket after wisdom tooth extraction in the lower jaw.

Dry Socket Symptoms
Apart from the intense pain, there are several dry socket symptoms. Some of the dry socket symptoms include the following:
•Severe dry socket pain 3 to 4 days after tooth extraction
•Pain in the ear, eye, temple or neck on the side of tooth extraction, especially after lower jaw tooth was extracted
•The bone in the socket becomes visible
•Really bad breath or foul odor in mouth
•The taste in mouth becomes unpleasant
•Swollen lymph nodes around the neck or jaw
Dry Socket Causes
A dry socket occurs when the blood clot layer that protect the bone and nerves ending in the tooth socket disappears. This blood clot may dissolve due to many reasons. If the clot is not formed properly, it may easily get dislodged before the healing is complete. It may also happen, that the root space is not filled with the new tissue. A bacterial infection may also cause the clot to dissolve. Small fragments of the roots or bone may still be present in the wound and interfering with the healing process. Any of these causes may lead to formation of dry socket.

What Does a Dry Socket Look Like
Many dental patients have a query, what does a dry socket look like. When you observe the dry socket, you will find partial or total loss of the blood clot in the socket. This causes the socket to look dry and empty. The empty socket makes the jaw bone visible and one may suffer from bad breath. Continue Reading »

     A diet high in tryptophan – an amino acid converted by the body into the feel-good chemical serotonin – can improve mood and wellbeing, pediatrician and natural health expert Caroline Longmore said.

     The body cannot produce tryptophan so unless we get enough through our diets, we may suffer a deficiency, leading to low serotonin levels which are associated with mood disorders, anxiety, cravings and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

     “Following a diet which contains foods rich in naturally occurring serotonin will improve your mood, leaving you energised and in a state of harmony and wellbeing,” Dr Longmore said.

     Mental health experts say while the theory behind tryptophans for improving mood is solid, its use by depressed patients has a chequered history in Australia.

     Gordon Parker, from the Black Dog Institute, said tryptophan supplements were widely used before the 1990s but after a number of patients suffered serious side effects from a contaminated batch, they were temporarily taken off the market.

     Professor Parker said while some patients strongly believed such supplements were beneficial, scientific evidence was lacking. Continue Reading »

     Daily Health Tips #1: Hygiene
     Personal hygiene is one of the basic daily health tips for kids and adults as well. Simple habits like washing hands before eating, keeping your body clean by bathing twice a day is something you need to teach your children at an early age. However busy you might be, but you can definitely find some time for this. Also, do not touch your hands to your face or hair as these carry a lot of germs which might lead to damaged hair or infection of facial skin. Never put your fingers in your eyes for the same reason. Oral hygiene is equally important to maintain dental health. Read more on personal hygiene tips.

     Daily Health Tips #2: Exercise
     Exercising is one of the most important daily health tips. This will ensure a healthy and strong body. Exercising can help keep most of the health problems at bay, hence, make sure you find some time for it daily. You can indulge in cardiovascular exercises or strength building exercise to stay fit. Maintaining healthy body weight suitable for your height, is one of the essential things you need to remember. This will reduce many muscular problems. One of the daily health tips for women is, that they must opt for mediation techniques that will help them stay relaxed and healthy.

     Daily Health Tips #3: Eat Healthy Continue Reading »