Waverly, AL
A 18-year-old female asked:
I had all 4 wisdom teeth extracted last friday and i'm a smoker. i was wondering if i'd be ok to smoke and not get dry socket? or a safe way to smoke
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Charles Kattuahanswered
Dentistry 24 years experience
Wait a bit longer: Most cases of dry socket occur on the lower jaw and happen 3 to 5 days after an extraction. It has only been 3 days so give it a few more if you can. This might actually be a good opportunity for you to quit if you are thinking about it. There really is no safe way to smoke cigarettes, even if you haven't had oral surgery. However e-cigs may currently be the safest alternative.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. John Scubaanswered
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 26 years experience
Smoking and healing: The answer is you smoke at your own peril. It greatly impairs healing, and the postoperative course is often stormy, but self inflicted. Unfortunately, the concern over "dry socket" is overblown--patients come away thinking it as an infection, which it isn't, and mismanaging it with "new" antibiotics and pain pills is the primary reason it often persists far longer than necessary.
4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 2, 2020
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
24/7 visits - just $39!
50% off with $15/month membership
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.