Smoking and Vaping After Tooth Extraction: What To Know

Can you smoke or vape after a tooth extraction?

You should wait as long as you can. Mayo Clinic says if you smoke or use tobacco, do not do so for at least 48 hours after surgery and as long as you can after that. Cleveland Clinic lists “smoke or vape” among the things to avoid after an extraction. Your dentist may ask you to wait longer, so ask for the number that fits your case.

This post is general information about tooth extraction. It does not replace the post-operative instructions your dentist gives you. If your instructions differ from what you read here, follow your dentist’s instructions and ask about the difference.

What does smoking do to the extraction site?

After a tooth is removed, a blood clot forms in the empty socket. The clot protects the bone and nerves while the site heals. Smoking and vaping can interfere with that process in at least three ways.

• Less blood flow. Cleveland Clinic says vaping or smoking after an extraction constricts your blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the site. Less blood flow means less oxygen for healing tissue.
• Suction. Mayo Clinic says the act of sucking on a cigarette may cause the blood clot to come out too early.
• Chemicals. Mayo Clinic says chemicals in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco may prevent or slow healing, and these chemicals can get into the wound.

The result can be a dry socket. Cleveland Clinic says people who smoke are over three times more likely to get it. Our post on how to avoid dry socket covers other steps you can take.

Does vaping count?

Yes. The Cleveland Clinic page names vaping and smoking together. The page does not separate nicotine from non-nicotine vapor, so treat any inhaled product the same way. Mayo Clinic’s wording covers “tobacco products,” so chewing tobacco and similar items fall under the same advice. If you are unsure about a product, ask your dentist before you use it.

Another point deserves a mention. Drinking through a straw can disrupt the clot as well. Mayo Clinic says not to use a straw for at least a week.

What if you smoked before you read this?

Do not panic, and do not hide it. If you smoked or vaped soon after your extraction, stop now and watch the site. Mayo Clinic says to avoid tobacco for as long as you can, so every extra hour without it helps. Then tell your dentist what happened. The team can check for the signs of dry socket and talk with you about what to do next. Honest answers help the team care for you.

How can you cope with cravings?

A plan helps. These ideas come from the quit resources and your dental team:

1. Tell your dentist before the visit. Share that you smoke or vape. The team can plan your aftercare with that in mind.
2. Talk to your doctor. Mayo Clinic suggests asking your doctor or another health care professional about a program to quit for good.
3. Use free support. Smokefree.gov, a U.S. government site, builds a free quit plan and offers a texting program and an app. It says having a plan and the right tools can make a real difference.
4. Plan the first 48 hours. Stock soft food, keep your hands and mouth busy, and ask a friend to check in.
5. Do not change any medicine on your own. If you use a nicotine product prescribed or recommended by your doctor, ask your doctor and dentist how it fits with your recovery.

Why does it matter beyond the first week?

Tobacco affects healing in other ways too. NIDCR says tobacco use can delay healing and make treatment for gum disease less successful, and it calls smoking or tobacco use the most significant risk factor for gum disease. Cleveland Clinic also says to avoid smoking after a root canal because it can slow healing. If you are planning an implant or other treatment after an extraction, tobacco may come up again. Ask your dentist how it affects the plan. See our guide on replacing a missing tooth for the options.

What are the signs of a problem?

Call your dentist if you notice pain that is getting worse after day two, a bad taste or odor, or a socket that looks empty with bone showing. Cleveland Clinic says dry socket usually develops within the first three days. It also says to call if you develop a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, drainage (pus) around the site, or severe pain that does not improve with medication.

If you cannot reach your dentist, Cleveland Clinic says to go to the nearest urgent care or emergency room. Our tooth extraction aftercare guide lists more warning signs.

Next step

Read about tooth extraction at Town Center Dental, then call (636) 273-5866 or request an appointment if you have questions about aftercare or nicotine. The office is closed Friday through Sunday.