When can you smoke without gauze after tooth extraction

Q: Will wet gauze prevent dry socket while smoking?

The gauze wont prevent dry socket but it can at least help prevent the blood clot from coming out from the sucking motion of drawing in smoke. You may need to do this for the next 72 hours until the blood clot stabilizes so that it doesnt risk dislodging it.

Posted on: 17 November 2016

Table of Contents Show

When can I smoke normally after tooth extraction?
When can I smoke and not worry about dry socket?
Can you smoke and not get dry socket?
Will wet gauze prevent dry socket while smoking?

For smokers, getting a tooth extracted comes with an additional challenge. You are faced with the glaring questions: When is it okay to smoke? When is it safe? While most dentists recommend waiting at least 48 hours before smoking, for some smokers, this may be too long.

However, if you are unable to refrain from smoking for 48 hours, you run the risk of dry socket. Dry socket, as the name suggests, occurs when the blood clot that forms after an extraction either dissolves or is dislodged. When this happens, the nerves and bone tissue of the extraction site are exposed, and it is only a matter of time before infection sets in.

If this happens, you need to seek treatment immediately. Otherwise you could be in for a long and painful, not to mention costly, recovery.

Consider the following alternatives before smoking.

Take the Opportunity to Quit

You could also use your extraction as an opportunity to quit smoking. Withdrawal symptoms tend to fade completely after one month. However, it's understandable that such an extreme measure may well be unthinkable, especially after the stress of having a tooth extracted. The first thing on your mind when exiting the dental practice after an extraction will probably be your next cigarette.

While you cannot completely avoid the risk of dry socket and subsequent infection, you can reduce the risk by doing the following.

Use Nicotine Patches Instead

Using nicotine patches before and after surgery can help to reduce withdrawal symptoms, giving you the nicotine your body craves until it is safe to smoke again.

Cover the Socket with Gauze While Smoking

If you can't hold off from smoking, use a wet, sterile section of gauze (tap water is okay) to cover the extraction site as you smoke.

Follow these steps to smoke safely, while using gauze:

1. Prepare the Gauze

Cut out a square of gauze for each extraction wound. Soak the gauze with cold water.

2. Place Gauze

Gently place the gauze over the extraction site.

3. Bite Down Gently

Seal the extraction wound by biting down on the gauze, gritting your teeth with as little force as possible.

4. Inhale Gently

Purse your lips and inhale slowly, with as little suction as possible.

Smoking in this manner after an extraction, while not as effective as refraining from smoking, will protect the wound in two ways. Firstly, the protective layer of wet gauze will prevent some of the smoke from reaching the wound. Studies have shown that cigarette smoke can hinder the healing process of extraction sockets.

Secondly, according to webmd.com, the suction involved in smoking a cigarette may dislodge the blood clot so essential to protecting the underlining bone and nerves from infection, therefore biting down on wet gauze while smoking will at least reduce the pressure on the wound.

If despite your best efforts you suspect you may have dry socket, identifiable by the presence of pain around the extraction site, swollen lymph nodes or bad breath, contact your dentist as soon as possible. The sooner your dentist treats the problem, the sooner any infection can be dealt with, possibly saving you from weeks of pain.

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About the author: Dr David Chen, DDS

Hello, I'm Dr Chen and I'm an actively practicing dentist in Long Island City, NY. I graduated from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in 2016 but prior to going to dental school I was already working in the dental field. It's been more than a decade since I first got to know dentistry and let me tell you, time flies by quickly. Since then I've developed a fondness for writing, which is how this all got started!

Association Memberships:

American Dental Association
New York State Dental Association
Queens Count Dental Society

Medical Disclaimer:

This blog is purely meant for information purposes and should not be used as medical advice. Each situation in your mouth is unique and complex. It is not possible to give advice nor diagnose any oral conditions based on text nor virtual consultations. The best thing to do is to go in person to see your dentist for an examination and consultation so that you can receive the best care possible.

The purpose of all of this oral health information is to encourage you to see your dentist and to inform you of what you may expect during your visit. Due to the unfortunate nature of dentistry, there isn't really any true home remedies that will get rid of dental problems. Roughly 99.99% of them require in-person intervention by a healthcare professional.

Hint: That is the reason why you can't eliminate seeing dentists in your life!

When can I smoke normally after tooth extraction?

The recommended wait time for smoker after an extraction is at least 72 hour. Though this seems daunting, the chemical toxins found in cigarette smoke can cause inflammation and delay healing. Smoking too soon after an extraction can also cause dry socket.

When can I smoke and not worry about dry socket?

Your first set of instructions is to wait at least 24 hours before inhaling a cigarette. The sucking action can dislodge that clot and you'll be back to square one. If that clot is removed you will get a very painful result called a dry socket. You do not want to experience this discomfort.

Can you smoke and not get dry socket?

People who smoke and use tobacco are at a much higher risk of developing dry socket after tooth extraction. One study found that dry socket occurred in 12 percent of people who smoked after a tooth extraction. By comparison, only 4 percent of those who don't smoke developed dry socket.

Will wet gauze prevent dry socket while smoking?

The gauze won't prevent dry socket but it can at least help prevent the blood clot from coming out from the sucking motion of drawing in smoke. You may need to do this for the next 72 hours until the blood clot stabilizes so that it doesn't risk dislodging it.