A dry socket may look like an empty tooth socket after a tooth has been removed. Instead of seeing a dark blood clot in the opening, the socket may look partly or completely bare, and the bone underneath may be visible.
The exposed area can look white, yellow, or gray. In some cases, there may be grayish or gray-yellow tissue in the socket instead of normal healing tissue. The gum around it may also look red, swollen, or tender.
Dry socket usually becomes noticeable 1 to 5 days after a tooth extraction. It is often linked with strong, throbbing pain that may spread toward the ear, temple, eye, or neck. Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth can also happen.
This is different from normal healing, where a blood clot forms and gradually gets covered as the area heals. If you think you may have dry socket, contact a dentist or oral surgeon for an exam. Do not try to treat it with leftover medicine or place anything in the socket unless a dental professional tells you to.