It should hardly come as news that smoking isn’t good for your health, but many people underestimate just how damaging it can be to your oral health. Smoking increases your chances of developing several serious oral health issues, and it’s particularly important to avoid smoking after you’ve had a tooth extracted.
Here are just four reasons why.
- You’ll Increase the Risk of Dry Socket
When a tooth is extracted, a clot needs to develop within the socket to ensure proper healing. Dry socket refers to a condition in which the clot becomes dislodged. It can be extremely uncomfortable when this happens, and it significantly increases the recovery period. Smoking dries out the mouth, and puffing on a cigarette creates suction – dry socket can result.
- You’ll Interfere with Blood Clotting
As mentioned above, the formation of a blood clot is one of your first steps towards recovery. Smoking doesn’t just increase the risk of that clot coming out – it also interferes with the clot’s development. The small blood vessels that feed the area will not supply blood as efficiently, so clots aren’t as strong or reliable.
- You’ll Increase Your Recovery Time
Let’s say you have undergone a tooth extraction treatment successfully by the hands of an experienced Washington DC dentist (or a similar professional elsewhere, you will still need to take considerable time to recover. Even if you successfully avoid complications like dry socket or clotting issues during the dental extraction process, smoking can still hinder the recovery process. This is due to the negative impact of smoking on blood flow. In your mouth, there are delicate blood vessels that need to remain healthy for proper tissue formation over the extraction site. If you continue to smoke during the recovery period, you may have to be extra cautious when eating and drinking, and discomfort is likely to persist. Though you may ensure efficient and safe dental extractions by seeking professional services from reputable dental clinics specializing in same-day extractions, such as this mishawaka same day extractions service, smoking can compromise this process, leading to slower healing and prolonged discomfort.
- You’ll Expose Underlying Areas
Finally, keep in mind that new areas of the mouth will be exposed after a tooth has been extracted, and those areas will have minimal natural protection. Exposing them to smoke can be extremely dangerous, possibly leading to issues as serious as oral cancer.
