Quote Originally Posted by jotini View Post
Hey, I'm in training to be an oral surgeon! So, the smoking is going to seriously impair your healing. It's also likely to be the cause of the dry socket too as it reduces blood flow - which you need when you're trying to heal. Whilst I'm not saying give up, just maybe for a few days try really hard just to have a couple less cigarettes; once you have healed a little more then you can resume regular smoking (though I shouldn't advocate smoking at all!).
The dry socket was from losing the protective blood clot when the teeth were extracted; if they're not truly infected then antibiotics will do nothing. It sounds like your surgeon and dentist were giving them out like candy! We don't quite have that approach over here.
To me it sounds like you have delayed healing, primarily from smoking, you may also have other factors in your medical history that compound healing.
Also, If it is getting a little stinky and gross in there I would recommend hot salty mouth rinses, a teaspoon of salt in a small cup of hot water and just bathe the sockets by holding the rinse over them for as long as you can. The salt will kill the bacteria much better than antibiotics.

Jo
Hey Jo,
Thanks for your reply...yeah I have been gently rinsing with saltwater every 3 - 4 hours. I have cut down smoking but I might try stopping altogether for a day or 2. There is Definatley infection as there is swelling and whiteness of the gum around the extraction site. I don't believe dry socket to be an issue anymore as the alvogyl has come out yesterday and swelling has reduced a bit, and with that reduction so has the pain....I'm at my wits end lol.