What happens if you vape after a tooth extraction?

Smoking or Vaping After a Tooth Extraction

After a tooth extraction washington dc, it is important to let your body heal as long as possible before returning to normal routines and eating habits. If you are a healthy individual before surgery, the time it takes for you to heal to a point where you can resume normal activities may not be very long. You do need just a couple of days to rest right after surgery though resuming the food you normally eat may take a little longer.

If you are a patient who smokes or uses smokeless tobacco, it is ideal to stop using tobacco products a few days before surgery and for at least 72 hours after surgery. The longer you are able to refrain from cigarettes or other tobacco products, the quicker you will heal.

Why do I have to stop using tobacco products?

While smoking is never good for you, the chemicals found in cigarettes can lead to inflammation and significantly delay healing. Using smokeless tobacco products isn’t much better as the same toxins are found in smoke with tobacco and cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco products also have the added disadvantage of the potential to become lodged in the extraction site and caused an infection.

Attempting to smoke too soon after an extraction can cause a painful condition called dry socket. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot that forms over the extraction site becomes dislodged, exposing the socket and underlying nerves to the elements.

The only treatment for dry socket is to get back to your oral surgeon as quickly as possible so they can irrigate the site and make sure it is clean before applying medicated bandages. They can also give you pain medication if you were unable to tolerate the pain using over-the-counter painkillers.

The pain from dry socket can radiate to your face and up into your ears so it is important to follow your oral surgeon’s instructions to avoid dry socket at all costs!

How much discomfort will I be in after an extraction?

Pain is relative so the amount of discomfort and pain you feel completely depends on your individual pain tolerance. You are likely to experience some discomfort as your extraction sites will be swollen and somewhat painful but most patients are able to control the pain with over-the-counter pain medications. Most of the swelling should be completely gone within 7 to 10 days.

Do I need to change my oral hygiene routine after an extraction?

You will need to make some modifications to accommodate for the new soreness in your mouth. It is important to avoid using any mouthwash that contains alcohol. The best rinse to use while your extraction site heals is a warm saltwater solution. When you are rinsing your mouth out, do not spit the solution into the sink, instead allow the water to fall out of your mouth as you lean over the sink. The force that comes with spitting can dislodge your blood clots and cause dry socket.

It is completely normal to see a pink tinge to your spit for a few days when you rinse your mouth. Do you make sure you continue to gently brush and floss the rest of your teeth while being very careful to avoid your extraction sites.

The better you are to follow your oral surgeon’s postoperative instructions, the quicker you will heal!

More on Tooth Extractions : Emergency Tooth Extractions

A major procedure like wisdom teeth removal doesn’t just require lots of ice cream and long naps; it may require you to adjust your cannabis vaping habits, too. Although there are risks to smoking and vaping after tooth extraction, some stoners still do so without using safety precautions. 

Here we’ll answer the question; can you vape after wisdom teeth removal and will guide you through all the potential threats, and how to prevent them.

Why Vaping After Tooth Extraction Isn’t Recommended?

We’re sorry to be the bearers of bad news, but doctors strongly advise against vaping and smoking right after tooth removal. Ideally, you should wait about 72 hours before taking a hit of your vape. The sucking motion from vaping can harm your teeth, gums, and oral tissues. Vaping cannabis can even increase the level of pain where your tooth was extracted. 

The heat from the smoke is not your mouth’s friend right after tooth extraction. That’s because the heat may cause inflammation, which ultimately slows down the healing process. When you’re not healing properly, it’s more likely you’ll experience infections and other issues. One of the unpleasant complications you might endure is called a dry socket. 

What is a Dry Socket?

If you’ve never heard of a dry socket before, consider yourself lucky. It’s a painful dental condition that usually occurs after an adult tooth removal. A dry socket occurs when a blood clot fails to form in the area where the tooth was extracted. Without a clot, sensitive nerve endings and bone become exposed, which is the source of the socket. 

Food and other bacteria can gather in the wound, making it even more excruciating. People with dry sockets will normally start to feel symptoms two or three days after the extraction. Those suffering from the condition will likely start feeling pain all throughout their face and head. 

Another indicator is the blood clot will be visible and possibly even the bone underneath. So, how exactly does smoking cause these painful dry sockets? We’ll tell you here, next. 

How Vaping After Wisdom Teeth Removal Can Cause Dry Sockets

It’s important for vapers to know that smoking and vaping have a direct relationship with dry sockets. This is because when you get a tooth pulled, part of the healing process requires a blood clot to form where the tooth was extracted. 

Blood clots will stop more blood from leaving, help protect against infections, and encourage quick healing. Making sure the bleeding stops is critical for fast relief. 

When you’re smoking or hitting a vape the suctioning can suck the blood clot out of place. This is when a dry socket occurs. Consider this your reminder to be wary of drinking with straws post-op as well!

Preventing Dry Sockets While Vaping

Although we recommend waiting at least a full three days before vaping again, we can’t really tell you what to do. What we can do is try to help you avoid those unpleasant dry sockets while smoking. 

• Inhale with very minimal force
• Ask your dentist to stitch the extraction site
• Cover the extraction site with gauze
• Avoid smoking and vaping for as long as possible

These tips will help curb the side effects when that hit of your vape pen is absolutely essential. 

So, Can You Vape After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Now that you know there are hacks to help ease the pain, you might be wondering if smoking and vaping after a tooth extraction isn’t such a big deal after all. However, it is still best to avoid it altogether. We might seem like a broken record, but we’re looking out for your health!

There’s no magical method to avoid pain and infection altogether, but tweaking your cannabis vaping and smoking habits a bit will help. Some stoners put gauze over the wounded area for protection. 

To keep the gauze in place, try wetting it before you place it in your mouth. Next time you take a puff, let your lips hang loosely with plenty of space around the mouthpiece instead of sealing them. You can’t expect huge clouds with this method, but your mouth will thank you later. 

Vaping After a Tooth Extraction with Gauze

So, how reliable is gauze when it comes to protecting your mouth during a smoke or vape sesh? If you decide to resume smoking before the recommended wait time, gauze isn’t just a good idea but according to dentists, it’s essential. They’ll likely advise you to place some over the site of extraction to further prevent dry socket and other issues.

Please remember that gauze, like any other method, is not 100% certain to keep you safe while vaping after tooth extractions. Try to stay strong and stick it out before you cave; the wait might not last as long as you thought.

How Long Do I Have to Wait to Vape After Tooth Extraction?

Playing it safe and steering clear of vapes after your extraction? How long does your involuntary tolerance break have to last? Smokers and vapers alike should be waiting at least three days to resume their consumption. 

While those 72 hours should help you steer clear of dry socket and other complications, some doctors will recommend avoiding vaping for a few weeks. Be sure to listen to your dental professional, as they’ll know what’s best for your recovery. 

Tips to Help You Avoid Smoking After Tooth Extraction

For any smoker or vaper, it can be extremely difficult to quit cold turkey, even if it’s only for a few days. Avid THC users should use this time to venture out and try the endless supply of non-smokable cannabis products at our fingertips. Try a sweet infused treat or a thirst-quenching THC-infused beverage (as long as you’re not drinking it with a straw)! 

Not looking to venture out to the dispensary post-extraction? We don’t blame you. The recovery stage could be a great time to take a well-needed tolerance break. While a total break might seem difficult, what better encouragement than knowing it’ll help your road to recovery? 

Final Thoughts on Vaping After Wisdom Teeth Removal

All of this information might seem like a lot to take in when mentally preparing for the procedure. But, taking time away from regular life to recover, and most importantly, deciding what Netflix show to binge while you’re stuck in bed, should have you covered. Let’s recap so you know the key takeaways. 

First and foremost, use your inner strength to try and power through those first three days with no smoking or vaping. It might seem like a long time, but if you’re willing to suffer for a few days post-extraction, you won’t have to suffer for weeks due to infections, pain, or worst of all, dry sockets. 

Use our tips and tricks to avoid smoking, and if you can’t, use your gauze and proceed with extra caution. We’re wishing you a happy and healthy recovery! Once your mouth is feeling good again, check out O.pen vape pens for all your cannabis vape needs.