After a tooth is extracted, a blood clot forms to protect the bone and nerve tissue. It also helps with gum healing, so it should be left in place until your gums have healed completely. When something disrupts or dissolves the blood clot in the socket, you develop a “dry socket.” To avoid a dry socket, the following steps should be taken: Practise good oral hygiene. It is important to have a clean mouth to avoid developing dry sockets. By maintaining a clean mouth, you can avoid bacteria and diseases causing damage to your blood clot. Consult your dentist for instructions on brushing your teeth following surgery. Your dentist may recommend rinsing your mouth and then brushing very lightly the next day. Following surgery, your dentist may prescribe an antibacterial mouthwash. Avoid using a straw. A blood clot can be dislodged by the suction movement of air and cheek muscles in a straw. It is recommended that you avoid drinking from straws for a week following the extraction. Avoid smoking. Dry sockets following tooth extraction are much more likely to develop in smokers and tobacco users. Through forceful inhalation, smoking may dislodge blood clots. Additionally, cigarette products include compounds that have been shown to delay healing and increase the chance of infection. Diet. On the first day following surgery, you should consume only soft foods such as applesauce, yoghurt, and mashed potatoes. On the second day, you can slowly add slightly more substantial items, but always switch to soft foods if you encounter any pain. It is crucial to avoid soup since sucking may cause the blood clot to dislodge. Also, you should avoid crunchy foods such as chips, nuts, seeds, and sticky foods that may become lodged in your sockets.