SMOKING AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTIONS
It might be wise to have a plan in place in regard to dealing with your smoking habit after having a winston salem tooth extraction procedure. The short answer is you cannot smoke after having a tooth removed. Your dentist or oral surgeon will emphatically suggest you do not inhale a cigarette, or do any other kind of sucking action, for at least 72 hours after your tooth extraction. Let’s look at the procedure itself, the detrimental effects of the sucking action and the objectives in the healing process.
The Fundamentals with a Tooth Extraction
The dental industry has made a concerted effort in recent years to do everything possible to maintain all of your natural teeth. The extraction might be the result of an accident, a diseased tooth or an impacted wisdom tooth that must be removed. A local anesthetic is used to numb the immediate area and the tooth is pulled. It's as simple as that. It does, however, though leave a hole in your soft tissue. A hole that will bleed. Gauze and pressure will with time stop the bleeding. For an impacted tooth a cut must be made in your gums to get access to the tooth to extract it. Most often sutures will be used to close this hole. That hole needs time to heal.
The Negative Effects of Smoking After Tooth Extraction
The immediate short term impact is that hole develops a blood clot. The effect of inhaling a cigarette, or even sucking on a straw, will dislodge that blood clot and will send the site of the extraction back to square one. Bleeding will start and you will start all over. You can or will also develop something called a dry socket which is a very uncomfortable result you definitely want to avoid. After 72 hours, it will be safe to inhale again without dislodging the blood clot. The longer negative effect is that smoking can cause an infection and prolong the healing process. The American Dental Association has proven that tobacco products are noxious to the tooth extraction site, inhibiting slowing down the healing process. The blood flow to the extraction site is reduced, delayed and diminished as a result of smoking.
The Right Way to Heal from a Tooth Extraction
You will be advised to avoid physical activity for 24 hours and to also avoid alcohol and any hot beverages. This is all about that delicate blood clot. You still need to brush your teeth you’ll just want to avoid that extraction site. You’ll be wise to avoid hard foods and do not suck a soda or malt through a straw. Think of other health related procedures and the measures taken. It is no different in your mouth. Do it right the first time. So, if you are looking for an opportunity to stop smoking this would be a good starting point. Otherwise plan how you are going to deal without smoking for those 72 hours.
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