Following the removal of wisdom teeth, it is essential to follow aftercare instructions as closely as possible to ensure a fast healing process and reduce your risk of developing post-procedural complications, such as dry socket. There are several factors that will impact your rate of healing, including your age, how impacted the tooth is, your oral hygiene habits, and whether you are a smoker.
Following the removal of your wisdom tooth, a blood clot begins to form over the removal spot. During this time, fibroblasts begin to generate bone. Patients who smoke run the risk of damaging this natural healing reaction due to the tobacco damaging the tissue cells. Additional, the carbon monoxide in cigarettes inhibits the amount of nutrients and oxygen to the tissues, which slows down the healing process. As a result, the healing process can take longer, and you place yourself at an increased risk of developing an infection and/or dry socket.
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Smoking immediately following wisdom teeth extraction and the days that follow puts you at a much higher risk of developing complications such as a dry socket or an infection and can slow down the recovery period. In addition to putting you at a higher risk of infection and dry sockets, prolonged smoking also places you at an increased risk of developing periodontal disease, which can result in the need for additional teeth to be extracted in the future.
Additional Aftercare Instructions
In addition to avoiding smoking for at least the first 72 hours following wisdom teeth extraction, it is important to stay hydrated and eat a modified diet for the first few days, and possibly longer depending on how many teeth are removed and your body’s natural healing process. It is also important to avoid strenuous exercise, spitting, and drinking from a straw. By sticking to liquid or soft foods immediately following extraction of your wisdom teeth and avoiding smoking, you will avoid irritating the extraction site, which in turn will reduce your overall pain and speed up the healing process.
How Long Do I Need to Wait Until I Can Smoke Again?
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At an absolute minimum, you should wait at least 24 hours following wisdom tooth extraction before smoking, although the preferred amount of time is 72 hours. Once you have reached the 72-hour mark, your risk of developing a dry socket significantly reduces. Waiting this amount of time will also speed up the healing process and facilitate the formation of the blood clot. If you do smoke within the first 72 hours, try to rinse your mouth with warm salt water immediately after doing so. This will not guarantee that you will not develop a dry socket, but it will provide extra protection.
While we understand that smoking is a personal choice, it can also cause many oral and physical health issues to develop. If you have been considering quitting smoking, having your wisdom teeth extracted may be the perfect opportunity to take that next step and kick your nicotine habit.
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