An in office oral surgeon in Ypsilanti MI extracts impacted wisdom teeth when the individual’s family dentist has recommended this should be done or when a person has begun experiencing discomfort from an impacted wisdom tooth. Dentists are performing these surgical procedures strongly advise patients to quit smoking beforehand if they are regular smokers, and not to smoke for several days afterward. This can be very tough for some people, but there are specific reasons why it’s important. This is also a good opportunity to quit the habit for good.
Decreased Circulation
Smoking interferes with blood circulation throughout the body. That reduces the body’s ability to heal rapidly because the transport of nutrients and oxygen is compromised.
Gum Irritation
Smoking irritates the gums, which is especially troublesome when they are sore from tooth extraction. Smoking also can be considered a relatively dirty habit in that it brings toxins, harmful chemicals and contaminants into the mouth. Those substances should not be in contact with a part of the body healing from surgery.
Dislodging Blood Clots
Drawing in smoke from a cigarette or cigar requires suction, similar to sucking on a straw. This can dislodge the blood clots in the sockets where the teeth used to be; those clots are important for preventing excessive bleeding from the wounds and for speeding healing.
In addition, if the clots are dislodged, a condition called dry socket is likely to develop. Medically known as alveolar osteitis, it involves inflammation in the socket and tends to be very painful. Because the blood clot has been lost, part of the jawbone and some nerves actually are exposed, when normally they are protected by the teeth and gums. The patient will need additional treatment by a dentist or an oral surgeon, such as Washtenew General Dentistry, to resolve the problem.
An In Office Oral Surgeon in Ypsilanti MI provides a list of activities to avoid after wisdom tooth extraction, including smoking. If the patient feels this is unreasonable, he or she should consider the reasons why avoiding smoking is important after oral surgery. That may provide the motivation to abstain, even if doing so is aggravating.
