When can you use straws after wisdom teeth removal

One of the first post-operative instructions you receive after a tooth extraction is to avoid drinking through straws for at least 24 hours. You might have heard this indication if you or any family member ever had a tooth removed, but do you know why it is so important?

This blog explains in detail how your body reacts to teeth extractions and why following this (and any other) post-op instruction is critical.

What Happens After a Tooth Extraction?

The physiological response to a tooth extraction might vary according to the characteristics of the surgical procedure, as some surgeries are more invasive than others. However, the healing process is very similar in all cases. After all, dental surgery leaves a wound, so the body will react as in any other traumatic event.

As soon as the surgeon pulls out the tooth, the empty socket is filled with blood. After a few minutes, the blood tends to get thicker and eventually forms a blood clot. This blood clot is vital to the healing process, but, unfortunately, it can easily get dislodged from the empty tooth socket. In most cases, oral surgeons opt to give stitches to the wound to prevent this inconvenience, but patient cooperation is still crucial to avoid post-operative complications.

Why Can’t I Use a Straw After Surgery?

Well, drinking through a straw creates suction, which can easily dislodge this blood clot. As mentioned before, this clot is vital as it has two primary purposes:

Stop uncontrolled bleeding: this clot stops the bleeding that is inevitably caused by oral surgery. If it gets dislodged, the socket will start bleeding once again, and you might need to visit the emergency room if it doesn’t stop on its own. Uncontrolled bleeding can be dangerous, so please do not hesitate to contact our office or visit the ER if this happens!

Avoid dry sockets: the blood clot also protects the remaining bone tissue from getting infected by bacteria. This infection, known as dry socket or alveolar osteitis, is extremely painful and requires urgent dental attention. If you start feeling pain after an extraction, visit the office as soon as possible – dry sockets can take a couple of weeks to resolve on their own without medication or dental treatment.

Other Post-Operative Recommendations

Besides avoiding straws, there are other instructions that you should follow after oral surgery to prevent further inconveniences:

• Bite on a gauze pad for 45 minutes after the appointment. Replace it whenever it gets soaked.
• Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after surgery.
• Be extra careful when brushing near the area.
• Take medication as prescribed by the oral surgeon.
• Keep your fingers and tongue away from the surgical area.
• Apply ice packs on the surgical area (on the side of the cheek) for the first 48 hours to prevent severe swallowing (20 minutes on and 10 minutes off).
• Do not smoke for at least 48 hours after surgery.
• Choose soft and preferably cold or warm foods. Ice cream is a perfect choice!
• Avoid lifting heavy weights and do not exercise for at least three to four days after surgery.

If you have further questions regarding this or any other post-op instruction, you can schedule a consultation with one of our oral surgeons at Hill Country Oral Surgery. Our team is always ready to help!

If you bring up the subject of wisdom teeth with your family or friends, you will likely hear any number of horror stories about their experience with a wisdom tooth extraction or even that of a friend of a friend. In most cases, these stories are greatly exaggerated out of a sense of fear about the process. These overblown stories are often told with such gusto that patients who need their wisdom teeth removed frequently put off the procedure until the situation becomes more complicated and problematic. The following addresses common misconceptions about wisdom teeth and wisdom tooth removal.

Myth: All wisdom teeth need to be removed.

As long as the tooth is properly aligned and healthy, it does not necessarily have to be removed. Wisdom teeth do need to be removed if they only partially break through the gum or if they are emerging at an abnormal angle. These issues can cause pain and threaten the health of the surrounding teeth. A dental X-ray can reveal if you have wisdom teeth hidden in the soft tissue of your gums or buried deep within the jaw bone. Approximately 85 percent of people with wisdom eventually have them removed.

Myth: Everyone has wisdom teeth.

Whether you have wisdom teeth or not is a matter of genetics. Approximately two-thirds of the population has wisdom teeth while the remaining one-third does not.

Myth: Wisdom teeth arrive along with the rest of the adult teeth.

In most cases, wisdom teeth erupt between a person’s late teens and mid-twenties.

Myth: Removing wisdom teeth is painful.

Removing wisdom teeth is typically no more uncomfortable than any other dental procedure. Dentists offer everything from mild sedation to twilight sedation to help patients remain calm and relaxed. Local anesthetics are used to numb the area during the procedure. For most patients, any swelling or discomfort after the extraction can be controlled with over-the-counter pain relievers and will typically resolve within a day or two. Patients with more complicated extractions involving nerve interference or unerupted teeth may be given prescription pain medication.

Myth: It is best to drink from a straw while recovering from a wisdom tooth extraction.

You should not use straws until you have completely healed from the extraction. The pressure created by drinking through a straw can dislodge the blood clot at the site of the extraction, which can lead to a painful condition known as dry socket.

Myth: It is okay to smoke within a couple of hours of a wisdom tooth extraction.

Having a wisdom tooth removed is a good time to try to quit smoking altogether. Although the first 72 hours are the most critical, it is best to avoid smoking for at least five days to reduce your risk of dislodging the clot and developing dry socket. Smoking also reduces blood flow to the extraction site, which can compromise healing.

Myth: Wisdom teeth should be removed at an early age.

Age is not the sole determining factor on when wisdom teeth should be removed. A dentist can help you determine if and when you should have a wisdom tooth extracted based on your symptoms and the potential for complications.

Myth: Wisdom tooth extraction is expensive.

We will let you know the exact cost of your wisdom tooth extraction during your initial consultation. We accept most major dental insurance plans as well as MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. If the out-of-pocket cost is problematic, we may be able to set up payment arrangements.

At Hinsdale Dental, we offer a full range of preventative, emergency, restorative, and cosmetic dental services to ensure that you and your family enjoy a lifetime of good oral health. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

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