By

Dr. Nissy Susan

MDS

”Doctor, I don’t smoke, I only use vape …” is the most common reply you get when you advise a patient not to smoke after extraction.

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) represents a significant and increasing proportion of tobacco consumption, posing a tremendous threat to oral health.

You probably have heard about the dangers of smoking. Smoking cigarettes can lead to cancer, stroke, heart disease, lung disease, and so forth. Moreover, this bad habit is directly related to a host of dental risks like bad breath, tooth discoloration, gum disease, oral cancer, and more.

Using e-cigarettes, referred to as vaping, works by heating a liquid to generate an aerosol that the user inhales. The liquid in the e-cigarette, called e-liquid, is usually made up of propylene glycol, glycerin, flavorings, water, and nicotine, although some users will substitute THC for nicotine.

Smoking Or Vaping After A Tooth Extraction

After tooth extraction, 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

Nicotine impacts the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to organs and tissues, which is very important to keeping organs viable. This also may lead to an increased risk of infection. If your body is not using oxygen and promoting adequate circulation, this decreases the body’s capability to heal appropriately and increases the risk of infection.

Although it may be tempting, if you are vaping after tooth extraction, you are greatly increasing your chances of getting a dry socket. This is a complication to the healing process that can be extremely painful.

To help recovery, your body develops a blood clot where the tooth was removed to protect your gums and assist with healing. This blood clot can sometimes shift in your gums, becoming a dry socket. When you draw on a vape, it causes a negative pressure in your mouth which could in turn pull the clot from the extraction.

A dry socket after tooth extraction can be an extremely painful experience. This can make healing all the more complicated, so it would be in your best interest to avoid vaping for a good while after you have a tooth extraction.

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.

You should always follow the advice of your doctor or dentist when recovering from any kind of surgery, so seek their input before taking anything else during your recovery period.