For most people, having a tooth pulled may not be the most pleasant experience in the entire world, but at least the pain is bearable. However, some people develop a condition called dry socket that can be extremely painful.

After you have a tooth extracted, a blood clot forms in the extraction socket. The blood clot helps protect the bone and nerves beneath the socket. If the clot is dislodged prematurely, the bone and nerves are exposed to anything that enters the mouth. This condition is called "dry socket" and can lead to infection and painful inflammation.