Smoking or Vaping After a Tooth Extraction

After a tooth extraction washington dc, it is important to let your body heal as long as possible before returning to normal routines and eating habits. If you are a healthy individual before surgery, the time it takes for you to heal to a point where you can resume normal activities may not be very long. You do need just a couple of days to rest right after surgery though resuming the food you normally eat may take a little longer.

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.

Why do I have to stop using tobacco products?

While smoking is never good for you, the chemicals found in cigarettes can lead to inflammation and significantly delay healing. Using smokeless tobacco products isn’t much better as the same toxins are found in smoke with tobacco and cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco products also have the added disadvantage of the potential to become lodged in the extraction site and caused an infection.

Attempting to smoke too soon after an extraction can cause a painful condition called dry socket. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot that forms over the extraction site becomes dislodged, exposing the socket and underlying nerves to the elements.

The only treatment for dry socket is to get back to your oral surgeon as quickly as possible so they can irrigate the site and make sure it is clean before applying medicated bandages. They can also give you pain medication if you were unable to tolerate the pain using over-the-counter painkillers.

The pain from dry socket can radiate to your face and up into your ears so it is important to follow your oral surgeon’s instructions to avoid dry socket at all costs!

How much discomfort will I be in after an extraction?

Pain is relative so the amount of discomfort and pain you feel completely depends on your individual pain tolerance. You are likely to experience some discomfort as your extraction sites will be swollen and somewhat painful but most patients are able to control the pain with over-the-counter pain medications. Most of the swelling should be completely gone within 7 to 10 days.

Do I need to change my oral hygiene routine after an extraction?

You will need to make some modifications to accommodate for the new soreness in your mouth. It is important to avoid using any mouthwash that contains alcohol. The best rinse to use while your extraction site heals is a warm saltwater solution. When you are rinsing your mouth out, do not spit the solution into the sink, instead allow the water to fall out of your mouth as you lean over the sink. The force that comes with spitting can dislodge your blood clots and cause dry socket.

It is completely normal to see a pink tinge to your spit for a few days when you rinse your mouth. Do you make sure you continue to gently brush and floss the rest of your teeth while being very careful to avoid your extraction sites.

The better you are to follow your oral surgeon’s postoperative instructions, the quicker you will heal!

More on Tooth Extractions : Emergency Tooth Extractions