Can You Smoke After A Tooth Extraction? No, And Here’s Why!

If you’re a smoker, you have a higher risk of a lot of health complications, including infected teeth. And if you end up with a damaged or infected tooth, you may need to have it extracted to protect your oral health.

Still, you may be wondering if you can smoke after you get your tooth extraction. Can you indulge your craving after your surgery? The answer is “no,” and in this blog from Healthy Smiles Dentistry, we’ll discuss the reasons that you must avoid smoking for at least 72 hours (and ideally up to a week) after your tooth extraction.
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Why Can’t I Smoke After My Tooth Extraction?

So, why can’t you smoke after your tooth extraction? There are a few reasons that you must not smoke after you have your tooth removed by Dr. Shah at Healthy Smiles Dentistry.

• You may dislodge your blood clot – When you have a tooth removed, a blood clot immediately starts forming in the area. This essentially works as a “scaffold” that allows your body to rebuild bone and gum tissue in the area. When you smoke cigarettes, the sucking action of inhaling can actually dislodge this clot. This causes a condition called “dry socket,” which impairs healing and causes serious pain and discomfort. You may need to come back to our office for special treatment if you get dry socket.
  
  
• Proper healing is impaired by smoking – Even if you do not dislodge your blood clot by smoking, tobacco smoke slows down the natural healing process. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and also impairs the flow of oxygen and nutrients to your extraction site. This means that it will take longer to heal, which may also increase your risk of infections after treatment.
  
  
• Smoking can cause pain and discomfort – Tobacco smoke is a carcinogen, which means that it causes inflammation and cell damage. Along with the potential to dislodge your blood clot, this also means that smoking can cause a lot of pain and discomfort after a tooth extraction. Even if you’re really craving a cigarette, the pain may stop you from smoking.
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When Can I Start Smoking Again After My Tooth Extraction?

At a minimum, you need to wait three days (72 hours) before you smoke a cigarette after your tooth extraction. By this time, your blood clot has healed sufficiently to ensure that you won’t dislodge it by smoking. 

However, smoking after 72 hours still can impair healing and may cause pain and discomfort. If you want to ensure that you recover faster, we recommend avoiding smoking for at least a week after your tooth extraction.

You can consider this a good opportunity to quit smoking altogether, too! Most smokers consider the first three days to be the hardest period of smoking cessation, and if you can make it a full week, you may be able to kick the habit for good.
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Come To Healthy Smiles Dentistry For Expert Dental Care In Fairfax

If you think you need a tooth extraction in Fairfax, Healthy Smiles Dentistry is here to help. As a conservative dentist, Dr. Ridhi Shah will help you consider all of your options, and determine if a tooth extraction is the right solution for your needs. We offer gentle care in a judgment-free environment, so contact us online or give us a call at (703) 915-7330 to get the care you need.