What Happens If I Smoke After a Tooth Extraction?
Many factors affect your healing time after a tooth extraction. The factors may include your body’s ability to heal, your age, the complexity of your procedure, as well as whether or not you use tobacco products. If you smoke after tooth extraction, it may lead to complications or even infections that can extend your healing process time.
Getting your wisdom teeth removed is a relatively routine type of oral surgery. Whether it is a simple or a surgical extraction also depends on how long you’re healing process will be. Patients that recover quicker with either one of these procedures typically do not smoke directly after the procedure. If you smoke directly after the procedure, you are risking some postoperative complications that can cause you pain as well as infections that can be avoided by merely not-smoking.
What can smoking do after a tooth extraction?
If the patient is an avid smoker and cannot hold off on smoking directly after tooth extraction, it can increase the risk of a dry socket. A dry socket can firstly be depicted by extremely bad breath as well as extreme soreness in the jawbone area and where the extraction site is. A dry socket is a complication that will need to be addressed with your dentist after the extraction.
The toxins in cigarettes can delay the healing process time after a tooth extraction simply by not allowing the healing agents in your mouth to do their job. Also, the physical act of smoking can expel a blood clot that will have formed for healing the extraction site. A blood clot is typically made up of red and white blood cells that start the process for healing by closing the gaps between your gums. Blood clots can also be discharged from drinking from a straw as well. It is important not to brush away blood clots as they are needed in order to heal at a quicker pace. Many avid smokers use this time as a catalyst for finally quitting smoking. Most patients who smoke will want to heal quicker and by doing this must stay away from any tobacco products to avoid complications after the extractions. Although it may be a challenge from abstaining from smoking, it will be better, in the long run, to do so as well as a possible kick-start your plan to stop smoking. However, if you must smoke after tooth extraction it is recommended to wait at least 72 hours after the tooth extraction procedure. After three days, the blood clots will have done their job and become harder to expel them from your gums. However, be wary that the three-day minimum time may not apply to you if you had multiple surgical extractions, as surgical extractions will take longer than simple extractions to heal.
Whether you are a smoker or not there are many ways to heal more quickly. Your dentist will recommend you rest by taking a day off from work, avoid chewing hard foods, avert stressful physical activity, avoid hot or cold beverages. Your dentist may also recommend using a soft bristle toothbrush during your healing process time to avoid stressing the extraction site.
Contact Ritter and Ramsey today for more information about tooth extractions or to set up your consultation.
Interested in learning more about extractions? Read whether or or not you need an emergency extraction here.