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.
Smoking Increases Risk of Dry Socket
Smoking greatly increases the risk of developing a dry socket after extraction. Non-smokers have just a 4% chance of developing a dry socket, while smokers and tobacco users have a 12% risk. This can occur within 3-4 days after the extraction.
When you smoke, the sucking sensation that comes from inhaling cigarettes can pull the blood clot from the socket. This leaves the nerves exposed and vulnerable to infection. If an infection develops, that leads to a dry socket and severe pain that can last as long as a week.
Dentists have stated that the chances of smokers getting a dry socket is 58%. However, getting a dry socket becomes imperative, especially when you undergo a tooth extraction.
You should avoid smoking for the next five days after tooth extraction to avoid complications or increased pain in your gums. It\'s also important not to smoke in the first 24 hours after the extraction.
When you do start to smoke again, it is very important to use gauze to help reduce the pressure on the wound. 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.
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.
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.
The first five or so days after extraction are the most critical, and it is during this time that the risk for a dry socket is the highest. A dry socket can be very painful! If you think you have this condition, contact your dentist immediately.
Lower teeth that have been removed are more likely to develop dry sockets than extracted, upper teeth. Though dry sockets can be incredibly painful to endure, they can be easily prevented.
The symptoms of dry socket can vary, but may include: severe pain, visible bone, bad breath, a foul taste in your mouth, and radiating pain to your ear, eye, neck or temple. The partial or complete blood clot loss at the tooth extraction site looks and feels like an empty socket.
After a tooth extraction, you should develop a blood clot in the socket (hole) that's left behind. It'll look like a dark-colored scab. But if you have a dry socket, the clot will be absent and you'll be able to see bone. For this reason, dry sockets usually appear white.
Smoking 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.
Try to quit smoking for a few days after oral surgery for the site to heal properly. It is common for dentists to recommend that smokers should avoid smoking after tooth removal for at least five days. If you cannot abstain from smoking at all, you will run the risk of facing the consequences.
Thankfully, dry socket is easily avoidable. To help with any recovery, you'll need to develop healthy eating and cleaning habits.
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.
It's best to avoid smoking during this period and especially immediately during the first 24 to 48 hours after the extraction when the blood clot is forming. In addition to not smoking, you should also avoid eating hard or chewy foods, hot beverages, and alcohol to speed up the recovery process.
Do not smoke or use tobacco. Smoking and chewing tobacco can irritate the dental filling and increase the risk of an oral infection. Be sure to avoid these drugs while the mouth heals after the dental filling. This can take anywhere from a few hours to more than 12 hours.
Increased pain and discomfort – Smoking irritates your extraction site, particularly when it's still fresh and unhealed. Smoking after your extraction will cause significant pain and irritation, which is a major reason why you should avoid using tobacco after your surgery.
Avoid carbonated beverages immediately following your tooth extraction procedure, including sodas and seltzer water. Diet Coke will still be there waiting for you in a few days when your jaw is fully healed! After your procedure, focus on drinking lots of water to facilitate healing and stay hydrated.
Tooth extractions are common procedures. However, it is crucial that you follow your post-procedure instructions as directed by your dentist. These instructions will advise you to avoid hot liquids such as coffee, tea, hot cider, cocoa, etc., for the first few days after your extraction.
The dentist is right that the pain may be at a level of 10 at the moment on the scale of 1-10, but the pain score does gradually go down, the number of painkillers reduces, but it can take up to 3 weeks for the score to be zero. She will not have disturbed one of your top teeth, but the pain can radiate all over.