It would be wise to consider how you intend to manage dealing with your smoking habit following a tooth extraction procedure. The short answer is you should not smoke after having a tooth extracted. Your dentist or oral surgeon will strongly suggest you do not inhale a cigarette or do any other form of sucking action whatsoever, for at least 72 hours after your tooth extraction. Let us identify the procedure itself, the obvious detrimental effects of the sucking action, and then your objectives in the healing process.
The Fundamentals of a Tooth Extraction
The entire dental industry has made a very concerted effort in recent years to emphasize to all professionals to do everything feasible to retain natural teeth. The extraction could be the result of an accident, a failing, diseased tooth, or an impacted wisdom tooth that must be removed. A local anesthetic is used first to numb the immediate area, and then the tooth is extracted. It is as simple as that. The removed tooth does leave a hole in your soft tissue. A hole that will bleed. Applying gauze and pressure will, with adequate time, stop the bleeding. For an impacted tooth, a surgical cut must be made in your gums to achieve access to the tooth to extract it. Most of the time, sutures are used to close this hole. That hole also needs time to heal.
The Negative Effects of Smoking After Tooth Extraction
The immediate impact is that the hole develops a blood clot. The negative effect of inhaling a cigarette, or sucking on a straw, will dislodge the blood clot and will return the site of the extraction to starting over. Bleeding will begin, and you must start all over. You might also develop something called a dry socket, which is an uncomfortable result that you really want to avoid. After 72 hours, it will then be safe to inhale again without dislodging the necessary blood clot. Another extended negative effect is that smoking may cause an infection and then prolong your healing process. The American Dental Association has studied and proven that tobacco products are noxious to the tooth extraction site, which inhibits and slows down the healing process. The blood flow is reduced, delayed, and diminished to the extraction site because of smoking.
The Right Way to Heal from a Tooth Extraction
Avoiding smoking is not the only factor contributing to healing healthily and in a timely fashion. You will also be advised to avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours and to also avoid alcohol or any hot beverages. This is still all about that delicate blood clot. You will still need to brush your teeth, but you will simply want to avoid the extraction site. You will be wise to also avoid hard foods, and certainly do not suck any beverage through a straw. Think of the many other health-related procedures and the recovery measures taken. It is no different with your mouth. Simply do it right the first time. If you are looking for an opportunity to stop smoking, this is a good starting point. Otherwise, create a plan for how you will not smoke for those 72 hours.