Dentists recommend that you wait at least 72 hours, or 3 days, after a tooth extraction to smoke. However, the longer you can wait the better and the more your body will be able to heal. Try to wait to smoke until you can look in a mirror and see that your gums have started healing.
The recommended wait time for smoker after an extraction is at least 72 hour. Though this seems daunting, the chemical toxins found in cigarette smoke can cause inflammation and delay healing. Smoking too soon after an extraction can also cause dry socket.
The likelihood of tobacco users to develop a dry socket is actually 3x higher than those who don't smoke or chew! The sucking action of smoking a cigarette or pipe can dislodge a blood clot and cause a dry socket. It's recommended that smokers cut back significantly on smoking before and after oral surgery.
Following a tooth extraction, smoking can increase the level of pain experienced at the site where a tooth has been removed. This also slows the healing process. Also, the blood within the body of a smoker will hamper the healing process as well. This is because there is less oxygen in the smoker's bloodstream.
Logistic regression showed that tooth dissection, smoking, and the number of cigarettes smoked (>20 cigarettes per day) were associated with the occurrence of dry socket.
Smoking After a Tooth Extraction With Gauze
Gauze helps protect the wound in two ways: it prevents some of the smoke from reaching the wound and reduces pressure on the wound making the blood clot less likely to dislodge and cause a dry socket.
If you absolutely must smoke within the first 72 hours after your extraction surgery, try to smoke as infrequently as possible and try to inhale and exhale as gently as you can.
While the percentage of those who develop dry socket is rare—about 2%-5% of people—it's rather important to know why it happens and to determine if you may be more prone to it. Someone who doesn't have dry socket would see a dark blood clot near the area where the tooth was pulled.
If you are a patient who smokes or uses smokeless tobacco, it is ideal to stop using tobacco products a few days before surgery and for at least 72 hours after surgery. The longer you are able to refrain from cigarettes or other tobacco products, the quicker you will heal.
If you develop dry socket, the pain usually begins one to three days after your tooth is removed. Dry socket is the most common complication following tooth extractions, such as the removal of third molars (wisdom teeth). Over-the-counter medications alone won't be enough to treat dry socket pain.
You often cannot see a dry socket. Discoloration of a healing site is normal. A normal clot will often appear white in the mouth as it matures. The pain may keep you up at night and is often not fully treated by over the counter pain medicines.
Blood clots are extremely important for recovery, and smoking can expel the blood clots that are forming—delaying the healing process. This can also lead to the formation of a dry socket. Make sure to take at least 72 hours after a tooth extraction before smoking again. Do not smoke after tooth extraction.
Do not smoke following deep cleaning procedure for at least 48 hours. Tobacco smoke will prolong or discourage the healing process.
(First 24 hours post-op) Avoid eating or drinking for the first hour after your surgery (with the exception of liquids needed as an aid with taking medication). Over the following 24 hours, drink plenty of fluids so you stay properly hydrated.
Another common symptom of a dry socket is a bad or sour taste in your mouth. This can be one of the first signs of infection, so don't let that smell linger without taking swift action. Swish warm salt water or a dentist-recommended rinse in your mouth gently before getting on the books at your local dental office.
After tooth extraction, it's important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. Bite on a gauze pad for 30–45 minutes immediately after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes.
Research shows that women are slightly more likely than men to develop dry socket. This is probably due to estrogen, as the hormone may dissolve blood clots. Additionally, dry socket happens more often on the lower jaw than the upper jaw.
Keep gauze on the surgical area with some pressure (biting) for 30–45 minutes. Remove the gauze after 30–45 minutes and replace it with a new piece of gauze if you are still bleeding. It is important to make sure the gauze is directly on the surgical site.
The highest risk for this condition is between days 2-3 after tooth extraction. After day 4, the risk of dry socket is passed. This condition rarely happens (about 4% of all extractions) and is most common after bottom wisdom teeth extraction.
Gauze placed against the wound will draw blood from the clot and this, likewise, is not a sign of bleeding. Place an old towel over your pillow for the first night to reduce risk of staining. If the bleeding persists, contact the office.
You should try taking it easy for at least 1-2 days after the tooth extraction. When you are resting or sleeping, try to lie down so that your head is above your heart. This will lower your blood pressure and help control bleeding.
Dry socket may be caused by a range of factors, such as an underlying infection in the mouth, trauma from the tooth extraction or problems with the jawbone. The condition occurs more often with wisdom teeth in the lower jaw than with other teeth. You are also more likely than others to develop dry socket if you: smoke.
Dislodge the food by gently rinsing your mouth with warm salt water (saline) solution. Avoid swishing the water around and don't spit—this can lead to painful dry sockets. If you received a syringe from your clinician, you can use warm water or salt water to gently flush the socket clean.