Why is it Bad to Smoke after Tooth Extraction?
Smoking is very bad for your health, and especially after your dentist has removed a tooth. Ideally, if you need to smoke, you must wait 48 to 72 hours after the surgery. If someone tells you to wait only 4 hours, do it at your own risk!
The reason you must wait is that smoking can slow down the healing process in your mouth, and even cause serious complications. The smoke has chemical toxins that not only harm your lungs but also your surgery site. Also, the suction done when smoking can dislodge the blood cloth from the socket it is in.
One major complication is called dry socket. It is a very painful condition around the tooth extraction site, which can cause bad smell and limit how big your open your mouth. It usually happens 3-4 days after the surgery. If you do nothing, it will eventually go away, but if you see a dentist, he can put a desensitizing drug to make it go faster.
Full Article: When Can Someone Smoke after a Tooth Extraction?
In French: Pourquoi est-ce qu’il ne faut pas fumer après avoir enlevé une dent?
Must be hard for smokers to have wisdom teeth out, thanks for the information.
I am surprised at the number of people who try to smoke after getting their wisdom teeth removal done.
SMOKING
Ive had 2 teeth extracted.
1st time – Dentist didnt tell me – and i smoked like billio without a problem!
2nd time new dentist told me – i did smoke 6 hrs later. I smoke roll-ups (less toxins in them) from opposite side of mouth – and cut down. No Problems at all – socket healed. So i dont quite get it??
Dave.
You took a risk and you were lucky.
gross, but up your nose gently is cool. had all 4 out seperately under general anasthetics and no dry sockets in sight!
Lulasmoker, you smoked from your nose! Not a very good advice to give…!
I smoked 4-5 days after..took a few pulls stopped/later on took a few more pulls..now Im pissed.I have a irritating feeling away from where my wisdom tooth was extracted and its driving me crazy..no pain..but then again im just noticing the dry spot
Hi Prep, maybe it’s just a temporary uncomfortable feeling. But if you feel pain I would recommend to have it checked with your dentist.
will 72 hours be enough to smoke normally agian and coff a lung up right away?
Mitch,
Yes, 72 hours is fine.
hi, i had my top right wisdom tooth pulled out on monday around 3:30pm…today is thursday around 1:30pm. no stitches, tooth took about 5 min to get out….still achey but bearable. Is it safe to smoke a cig???
I have just had 2 teeth extracted.I am in my fifties and my tooth decay seems to be getting worse.I am a light smoker,occasional drinker,but tonight,after I had 2 teeth extracted,I would have had 3 extracted but for the fact that I told my dental health clinicean that if he took the third tooth out I would not be able to smile for lack of teeth and I would not be photogenic and I would be sufferring to the extreme!. He asked me if I was able to be sound of mind !I was about to have the third tooth extracted! I didn’t have the third tooth extracted.LOL Yes! I would have let him take the other offending tooth out but I said to him that I needed some time to just get through the first painful tooth extraction.The second and third teeth made me suffer so much that I cried and moaned throughout the whole ordeal!After that,I would need to get used to a black smile.Yes that’s what I call a black smile with a definitive lack of teeth and all you get is a black hole picturesquely!
If you have the money you can go to a dentist and have thejob done.But if you don’t have the finances??!Ive seen pictures of my grandmother and other relatives with dark shadows,missing teeth in their photo albums.I was not going to let that restrict me.But,Alas It happens!!LOL
The last resort is to have dental implants
Hi Littlewoman,
Yes you are right, having a tooth extraction is not a pleasant experience. You feel the pressure, you hear sounds, and you know after there will be a gap in your smile (or shadow like you described). I hope that you will be able to put dental implants to make your smile look nicer. If implants are too expensive for you, you can talk to your dentist about partial dentures, maybe that can work for you as well, depending of where your missing teeth are. Good luck!
Hello. I got my wizzies (2 on the lower jaw, neither impacted, though one came out in 3 pieces) removed on Tuesday March 10th. It is now Sunday. So far everything seems to be healing fine, and I have no pain, although I’m still not eating solid foods because I’m scared particles will get stuck in the sockets. Can I start smoking normally again? When am I considered to be out of the woods as far as dry socket goes?
Arjun,
After four days it is pretty safe to smoke (for your sockets, not your lungs). If you are afraid food particles will get stuck in the sockets, you can rinse with salted water after each meal.
Thank you!
You are welcome Arjun
what happens if you smoke a roll up 4 hours after extraction
Michael, you would increase risks of dry socket.
what serious complications can happen
if you get dry socket can you get something from the dentist to clear it
i had full upper and lower implants on monday at 11 am which went great i dont have much pain at all just alittle in my lower jaw and alittle in my nose i do have alot of swelling in my lips any ideas on how to get it down other then ice ive been iced up since monday night
also im a smoker i have not a cig since 6:45 monday morning i really need one just half lol do you think im clear to have alittle
I had my 2nd upper molar removed 2days ago. The dentist didnt tell me not 2 smoke, so I did. Anyway, all was well till last night when I had soup 4 dinner. I think a piece of the clot disolved. Theres still some left covering most of the hole, but it is more sensitive 2day. I rinse with salt water every 3 hours just in case. Is it possible that dry socket may have started?
Hi Willie,
Dry socket usually occurs 3-4 days after tooth extraction. If the pain is increasing, call your dentist right away, as he or she can put something in the socket to reduce the pain.
so the blood cloth is that the red part in the place where the tooth was will that heal and dissapear all together and just leave a plain empty gum or will it remain there
Matt,
Yes, it’s red, or a little greyish. After a few weeks it will become more and more pink, just like the colour of your gums. Then there won’t be a hole anymore, it will just be gum.
Hi. I had two wisdom teeth extracted Mon morning. Its been 36 hours and I seem to be okay. Swelling down No pain meds today. Is it safe to smoke in cigar leaves?
Tracy,
After 36 hours, it is safe for you socket, but not sure for your health. I am not too familiar with what cigar leaves are.
hi had my 2nd in from the back tooth extracted i think its a molar dont know on monday morning at 9.20 im a heavy smoker for my age 17. i managed to go yesterday without one but ended up in tears as i was so stressed. my family who live at home are all smokers aswell and at college all my friends are smokers so i cant really get away with it. i again feel like im going to burst into tears over the slightest thing as i want a fag so much would it be ok to have one now as i dont know how much longer i can wait. i know its only a few hours till itll be 72 hours but i want to check before i do anything. also bits of the flesh are breaking away when i rinse my mouth out is this normal? i am doing it very gently as this is what my dentist said but he said nothing about smoking.
@ Chrissywiss,
I understand your problem. Some dentist recommend to wait 48 hours before smoking, others say 72 hours. If I understand correctly, you have passed 48 hours and you are almost reaching 72 hours. You are therefore at a point where it is considered safe to smoke.
About the bits of flesh that are breaking apart, they might be sutures, or they might be food particles that were stuck in the hole where the tooth was, so I wouldn’t worry about it, just continue to rinse with water and salt.
thank you for your fast reply.
do i need to cover with a wet gauze still or is it saf not to now?
i have always had problems with mouth ulsers could this be due to the infection under the tooth? could you recomend a decent WORKING cream/gel to use as all the ones i use medijel, bonjela, orabase all dont seem to work?
again thank you.
@ Chrissywiss
About the mouth ulcers, there are many products out there that can help. As I often have ulcers myself, the best product I found is called Magic Mouth (in Canada). But it can only be done under prescription. It has Benadryl, Tetracycline and Nystatin. Maybe your dentist can prescribe it to you.
By the way, you are still young and I would highly recommend you to consider quitting smoking. I have only seen family tragedies including bad illnesses and deaths that occured because of long term tobacco consumption, and believe me, dying from lung cancer is one of the worse ways to die… so please, consider quitting, and just do it.
i have cut down alot now so im nearly there.
do i still need to cover the gap where the tooth was with a wet gauze to smoke or is it ok not to now?
thanks you.
@ Chrissywiss,
After 72 hours, you don’t really need to take those precautions. Dry socket occurs around the 3rd or 4th day after extraction. After that it is usually safe. And by the way, I am glad that you are slowly cutting down and wanting to quit
I regularly smoke a half a pack a day at least for the last 3-4 years. I waited 6 days until I started smoking again to be safe. Be smart people, wait at least 3-4 days, this isn’t something you want to mess around with. Getting teeth removed from your head is a big deal and is considered major surgery. Take this opportunity to give your lungs a break. If I can do it, you can do it. Be strong!
@ Daniel,
Thank you for the good advice, I hope more people will listen to you
Hi, I got a recent tooth extraction ( 4 teeth from the middle ). I have a white piece stuck in the extraction site. I got my teeth extracted on july 3rd 2009. I was wondering if that white piece is chicken I ate or the healing process thing. What do I do if its chicken…leave it there or?
Johnx
I suggest that you rinse with water in salt. If it’s a piece of chicken it will be removed by itself. But be careful as the blood clot has also a greyish look and it should not be removed. Therefore when you rinse with water and salt, do not do it too hard.
Hello, I had my wisdom teeth removed Friday. I feel like I’m healing good. I am a smoker but haven’t smoked yet. I have noticed today that there is a black hole in the back of my mouth. My teeth were impacted and were tough to extract. As I said I just noticed the hole today I have been taking all my meds and I have been doing the rinse. What do you think the hole is do you think its a dry socket and if so it doesnt hurt so what do I do?
Leana,
It is normal to have a hole where your tooth was extracted. The gum takes one to two weeks to heal. But bone needs longer, up to three months to heal. That is why you see a hole where the tooth was.
I’m a dental assistant and it is true they say you should not smoke before 48-72 hours.
I am looking on this site because I had a molar extracted yesterday but tonight is the second night and I was just lurched out of my sleep experiencing excruciating pain. From what I’ve been reading, I believe its a dry socket and have half a mind to go to the ER right now….. However, I am a smoker and have had 2 wisdom teeth removed and a couple other molars and have never experienced pain like this after the extractions. I guess the vicodan works when I take two at a time but I’m gonna run out by tomorrow at this rate. Not to mention the fact that one of my best friends weddings in which I’m in is 2 days fem now so I guess I’d better call the dentist first thing in the morning to get a handle on this!!!!
You say that is it ok to start smoking again after 48-72 hours, but then I read that dry socket usually occurs around day 3-4. How is it ok to start smoking again after 72 hours, but yet dry socket occurs a day or two after that. Does the dry socket set in before day 3 or 4, just not felt till then?
Bert, yes dry socket takes time to set, that is why it usually happens at the fourth day after extraction. It is recommended not to smoke for 72 hours, after that the risks are extremely low, but yet not impossible. It depends on how much you can hold out from smoking.
So, I got three wisdom teeth pulled on the 24th of july, and the dentist said that they were all growing in in these weird ways… such as toward my molars and out of my gum toward my cheek… and he said it made me a high risk for infection.
I am a smoker, but I waited a week before even smoking again, I was way too scared to get dry sockets or infections. BUT nowthat i have been smoking i’ve started to notice on the right side of my mouth where I had two teeth pulled, that my upper gum is extremely red and is still giving me a occassional problems ( sore and kind of hard to open mouth and chew food) where the stitches have come out.
do you think this has anything to do with smoking, or is my mouth just still in the process of healing?
thank you
Kristyn,
It is not common to get dry socket a week after extraction. But what you are describing sounds a bit like it. Maybe you can reduce the frequency of smoking and rinse with water and salt. If it becomes worse, call your dentist.
Hi,
I had 2 right wisdom teeth extractions. I know we’re supposed to hold off on smoking but I seriously couldn’t. I smoked a joint (marijuana) with a wet gauze like 2 hrs after my surgery then continued periodically with a wet tea bag. I knew after that I should expect dry socket/severe pain. After the 3rd day, my face is still slighty swollen but no pain. If I do get this “dry socket” can I continue to smoke? with or without the wet gauze/tea bags?
Jasmin,
If you smoke after tooth extraction, you will not automatically get dry socket. The risks are only higher.
what about da GANJA? is that a problem aslo?
I don’t know what Ganja is.
i had a tooth pulled on thursday and it is now wednesday and i have notice that my gums are swollen and my bottom front gums are a grayish color. is this normal? i am a smoker and the dentist didn’t tell me not to smoke after i had it pulled and so i started smoking as soon as i got out of the office. but now my gums are hurting and bleeding when i brush my teeth. i am not to worried about the bleeding…its the grayish color that is starting to really scare me…come you please tell me what this could be?
Brittany,
The greyish colour is normal. It can either be the blood clot, or some food debris retained there. I would recommend to rinse with water and salt three times a day.
i got my tooth pulled 3 days ago, i just stared noticing a whitish grey color where i got the tooth pulled, i know many people have asked this question but i really am worried about it, it is normal?
could it possibly be dry socket?
and should i check up with my dentist just to be sure…?
please help me =/ thanx
Dylan,
If you have no pain at all, it should not be dry socket. It coud be the blood clot, or some food debris.
okay, thanx man.
okay, so now it has been 5 days since i got my tooth pulled, i wokeup this morning and looked in the mirror to see how it looked, now most of the white stuff i was talking about is gone and my gums are all lumby feeling… my ears are both hurting, and my throat hurts, and i do have some tenderness where i got the tooth pulled, should i go in to the dentist for a checkup?
Yes Dylan, if the symptoms increase, it would be a good idea to have it checked by your dentist.
I totally understand the trouble with quitting smoking cold turkey pre/post oral surgery. I am going crazy! My surgeon told me not to smoke 24 hours pre and 24 hours post. I had a tooth extracted (towards the back) and the plan is to have an implant put in as I do modeling and can’t risk any missing teeth. I had a tooth extracted in the far back 5 years ago, and I kept the gauze and tea bag covering it thinking this will suffice as far as protecting it from possible exposure to the smoke! I’m really considering taking this opportunity to quit but I seriously want just one sooo bad! My boyfriend has never been a smoker so of course he has no sympathy! Its good to know after reading all these posts that I’m not alone in this! -Jen
Jen,
Thank you for sharing your experience
i am a pot smoker, have been for years, its been 4 hours since extraction and i am having no probs but i no i cant get through the night without a bong, sad ino, but do you think it will be ok to have a bong fore i go to bed? … just one!
I JUST GOT A FRONT TOOTH REMOVED THE NURSE SAID THAT IT IS RARE TO GET DRY SOCKET IN THE FRONT TEETH SO IS IT OK TO SMOKE WITH THE GAUZE COVERING THE TOOTH
hi, i just had my surgery saturday and now it’s wednesday. i was wondering if i could at least start smoking again? i actually feel fine, normal. no more pain although little discomfort. i can chew solid foods, also i’m able to stretch my mouth without having any pain. so basically, i feel good. it’s just this discomfort feeling that i have and it feels like my stitches are getting loose. but i have to wait until saturday to have the stitches removed. though i’m desperate to have a cigarette now. what do you think?
@ Kristel, yes it should be safe.
i just had 2 back teeth took out at 9.20 3rd december i have gone 30 hours without a fag. do you think that by the morning i could have one because i am really craving one. and by that time it would be 48 hours
what are the risks if i do have one ?? cuz im really scared :S
the clot has come off my bottom gum from my tooth extraction but i still have a clot on my top gum. i only had it took out 30 hours ago is it supposed to be gone already?
@ Jazz, if something came out of your socket it might not be the clot, it might be food debridement. If you have no pain, I wouldn’t worry about it.
I had a wisdom tooth pulled dec 4th and had terrible pain, turned out the it was tooth number 19 causing the trouble, My question simply is this I can plainly see the hole and the clot are getting smaller its been 48 hours since the removal and I have smoked easily and rarely since the extraction, If I havent gotten a dry socket by this point what are the odds that I will? And when you do get a dry socket from the way Ive been reading your saying the pain doesnt set in right away? how long does it take and how you do know ahead of time if you have one. Ive heard you will hear a pop and get a warm wet feeling is this true?
Eager For Answers.
Thank you in Advance
Nicole
@ Nicole, After 48 hours (72 hours even better), the chances of getting dry socket are very much reduced.
I had my wisdom tooth extracted this morning, december 26th 2009 after christmas lolz. im a heavy smoker with one pack per day but i can’t imagine how you take removing teeth so easy on you. Well as far as i know, there’re great possibilities of dental problem would reflect on your health, and sometimes, those could be even fatal. Of course, after getting rid of the tooth i just want to smoke so bad, like my normal daily routine. but think about it twice, there’re nerves under your tooth, so you better don’t mess around with it. I just don’t want to lose my mouth coz i love smoking and i need my mouth to smoke, lolz, and to some other guy smoke with his nose, salute. so far i quitted smoking for 1 day, first time ever in my life, and yeah, i will wait for 3 days onward, hope you all smokers can reconsider before light up your cigarettes.
I get my tooth pulled tomorrow. & I love to smoke. But I dont want to quit smoking for 4 days. Is it possible that if I put a piece of Gauz where I got my tooth pulled, and then smoke, will I still get a dry socket?
@ Cristina,
You will not necessarily get dry socket, but it’s risky.
I had tooth extracted about this time yesterday morning my question is what should the tooth extraction site, blood clot whatever look like say at this time tomorrow? I’m about to go rinse with salt water now and it looks all reddish with a tint of grey? I’m smoker but using patches for now cause i’m too scared to smoke, what i really want to know is how to see signs the extraction site is improving and healing. Thanks great site.
@ Gaz,
It is normal for your extraction site to look like the way you described. In about a week, the swelling will be very reduced, and the gum will look much better. You might still feel the hole though for a few more weeks, and this is because the bone takes around 3 months to heal completely.
okay so i got my upper left wisdom out tuesaday 3 days ago. when can i smoke with the gauze!!!!! and not get dry socket!!!!
@ Jazlyne Marie,
After 3 days, it should be ok to smoke, even without a gauze, and the risks of getting dry socket are very reduced.
@ Cara,
Yes after 3 days it is safer to smoke.