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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Teeth Removed. Puffed Cigarettes. Any Chances Of Getting Dry Socket?

Hello. I got a tooth removed, The tooth is located on the right side at the top all the way at the back. I ve had slight discomfort which is to be expected however I m worried about dry sockets. You see i m a smoker. About 4-5 hours after the tooth was removed I had to have a cigarette I took very gentle puffs and exhaled through my nose for this, then another before bed. On the Saturday I smoked about 4-5 using the same methods as above, normally have every meal and after every smoke/meal I would use lukewarm salt water to clean it. I ve also being do that today I have only had three today and cleaning afterwards. I normally smoke about 20 a day so I m drastically cut down and its driving me nuts . What I want to ask you is what are the chances of getting a dry socket now and when can I smoke normally again? That there is no chance of getting a dry socket.
Sat, 30 Mar 2013
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Dentist 's  Response
hello there ,

After extraction of the teeth , it is strictly instructed to the pateint to avoid smoking , alcohol and consumption of hot food stuffs for 3 to 5 days till the primary healing is completed.

Heat application by hot foods stuffs , smoke or even hot water over the open oral wound delays the healing process by preventing the clot formation .

There are great chances of DRY socket if the normal healing of the wound is delayed .
blood clot from the extraction socket is dislodged and the socket bone is exposed to the oral environment leading to dry socket condition.

i would suggest you to avoid smoking and follow post extraction instructions given by your dentist promptly.

if you experience any pain in the area , please consult your dentist for examination.

i hope this helps,

take care.
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Dentist Dr. Qazi Ammara's  Response
Hi,

Thanks for asking the query,

If you have done with molar extraction and if pain becomes intense and doesnt go away in few days it may be a sign of dry socket , in this condition the blood clot gets dislodged leaving the bone exposed to air . It is a very painful condition often associated with bad breath and fever .
Smoking ciggarette will delay the wound healing and increase the chances of getting dry socket, complete wound healing after extraction takes at least 3 months .
I would suggest you to quit the habit for atleast 3-4 months .
It is my wise advise to you to leave the habit forever as it may cause many health hazards...

Take tab ibuprofen twice daily .

Visit to your Dentist and get the checkup done , he can clean the socket remove the debris and place a dressing of zinc oxide to promote healing . you probably have to come back to Dentist after sometimes to change the dressing.

At home take saline water gargles 3-4 times , use antiseptic mouthwash gargles twice.
Follow the post extraction instructions properly.

Hope this helps out.

Regards..
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Dentist Dr. Bindiya Bhaskar's  Response
Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

After tooth extraction,extreme care is essential for wound healing .
Smoking can prevent wound healing and usually such practice is not encouraged after tooth extraction.
In your case,chances of developing dry socket is high.
I would suggest you to get a frequent warm saline as well as betadine gargle.
Maintain good oral hygiene.
Antibiotics-analgesics complete course has to be administered.
Hope this helps.
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Dentist Dr. Neha Gupta's  Response
Hello,
I am Dr. Neha Gupta (dentist) and am glad to address to your query here.

I would hold off on smoking a cigarette for at least two weeks from the time of the extraction. As a health care provider I would encourage you to quit smoking before the time of the appointment to help reduce the risk of post operative complications, and to remain that way.
Your body heals by forming a blood clot which is a matrix for the healing tissue and bone to form on. Cigarettes affect this in many ways, the suction you form on the cigarette itself can pull the clot from the socket and cause dry socket. The smoke is hot and irritating which can cause pain, delayed healing and also dry socket. The chemicals in cigarettes causes vasoconstriction, since the mouth heals through microvasculature, vasoconstriction can cut blood supply to the healing site and delay the healing or even cause failure of the clot from progressively healing leading to once again

Take care and please keep me informed of your progress at healthcaremagic through my profile directly.
Regards
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Dentist Dr. Anshul Agarwal's  Response
hi.. smoking increases the chances for dry socket as it creates negative pressure in mouth so it can lead to dry socket .

as a doctor i would never advise you to start smoking again but you can start after 10-15 days
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Teeth Removed. Puffed Cigarettes. Any Chances Of Getting Dry Socket?

hello there , After extraction of the teeth , it is strictly instructed to the pateint to avoid smoking , alcohol and consumption of hot food stuffs for 3 to 5 days till the primary healing is completed. Heat application by hot foods stuffs , smoke or even hot water over the open oral wound delays the healing process by preventing the clot formation . There are great chances of DRY socket if the normal healing of the wound is delayed . blood clot from the extraction socket is dislodged and the socket bone is exposed to the oral environment leading to dry socket condition. i would suggest you to avoid smoking and follow post extraction instructions given by your dentist promptly. if you experience any pain in the area , please consult your dentist for examination. i hope this helps, take care.