how long must i wait to smoke after having a tooth removed?

Question

the tooth was badly decayed and was extracted to stop the spread of bacteria

Answer 1

As a dentist I can tell you that I usually recommend that my patients always wait to smoke, drink from a straw or do any strenuous exercise for AT LEAST 72 hours after extraction. It is best to wait longer (ie: a week), but after the first 72 hours the chance of a dry socket does decrease considerably. Continue to take any prescribed antibiotics and pain medication (as needed) and after 24 hours following extraction you should begin GENTLE warm salt water rinses to help prevent any infection. Cold compresses will also help reduce swelling and will also help remove minor aches/pain you may have after your extraction. Good luck!

Answer 2

I had a wisdom tooth removed yesterday, I specifically asked about how long to wait to smoke again, she says no more than 24 hours and I should be fine, also as far as dry sockets go, it's the not the smoke that causes it, it's the suction in your cheeks that cause pressure in your mouth making your scab fall off exposing the bone and nerves, so as long as you're inhaling light enough so that your cheeks aren't sucking inwards, you will be fine, just make sure to very gently rinse your mouth out with water after, but don't swish it around aggressively because that can create a dry socket too

Answer 3

After having a tooth extracted you "really" should wait 72 hours before smoking, but we know most patients who smoke will smoke, it's inevitable. So to aid in preventing a dry socket from happening, when you smoke, take two of the gauze (given to you) moisten them in water, fold them over twice into a square, then place this over the extraction site and "gently" bite your teeth together when you smoke making sure to "keep your teeth together" and the extraction site "covered" with the gauze.

Try to at least cut way back and use a clean gauze each time being careful when you remove it and try to wait until tomorrow so that you can rinse with warm salt water after smoking, which you should also do after drinking or eating tomorrow. This is not guaranteed to stop a dry socket, but it does offer some protection, that is better than none. I know patients who smoke and they usually can't go the 72 hours without smoking a few, so this is the best advice I can give that will offer some protection. Although it is always best if you refrain from smoking for the three days, we know most patients just can't do it. So if you must smoke, then keep it covered. I'm sure I will catch a lot of flack from others on this one, but I've never had a patient come back with a dry socket using this technique.

Hope I’ve been of some help and good luck with your healing.

Answer 4

I just had a tooth pulled yesterday my dentist told me not to smoke for 48 hours and said if I did smoke to do it lightly and whatever I do not to put any gauze near the area since the gauze can catch the blood clot and pull it out and there is more risk of dry socket by putting gauze there then there is actually smoking he said the main reason not to smoke is more the suction than the actual smoke so not to take hard drags just very light ones until 2 days after if I must smoke I've been smoking since an hour after they pulled the tooth went in 7 hours later cause it was still bleeding and they said the clot was good and it was healing nicely.

Answer 5

Natural Quit Smoking Magic

Answer 6

RE:
how long must i wait to smoke after having a tooth removed?
the tooth was badly decayed and was extracted to stop the spread of bacteria

Answer 7

Sorry Alyssa, not to be rude but we are talking about how long to wait before we can smoke after an extraction. Im sure we all know that smoking is bad for us! If you dont smoke never have & never will, good for you but you have no idea how it is to just not smoke for a few days, it s not easy & like i said you wouldnt know that! So we really dont need a lecture especially from someone who has never smoked before!

Answer 8

I received a paper with a list of instructions that said to wait 24 hours to smoke with no other tips. It shouldn't be that big of a deal if this is all the instructions my dentist gave me. Plus knowing this specific location I'm sure they come into contact with plenty of smokers.

Answer 9

Look, I'm a smoker and I won't give you the "just don't smoke" routine. I would wait a few days though. Smoking can cause dry sockets which is EXTREMELY painful. If at all possible, try to hold out as long as you can. You don't want a dry socket, trust me.

Answer 10

Geez, didn't the oral surgeon or dentist give you a paper that listed all the things you should and shouldn't do after an extraction? You are supposed to wait quite a while before smoking or using a straw, so you won't suck out the blood clot. See below........

A blood clot needs to form in the empty tooth socket.
The blood clot that forms in the extraction socket is an important part of the healing process, so be careful not to do anything that will dislodge it. Remember, events that occur during this time frame will affect the healing process for days to come. (It is thought that the development of " dry sockets" is related to the loss of blood clots.)

This means you should avoid vigorous rinsing or spitting during the first 24 hours after your tooth extraction. Also, creating suction, such as that produced by using a straw or smoking, can dislodge the blood clot that has formed. Hot liquids will tend to dissolve blood clots, so stay away from hot coffee or soup.