Does Vaping Cause Dry Socket? – Our Guide!

If you’ve recently had a tooth extracted, you might be wondering if vaping weed could cause a painful dry socket in your mouth?

Vaping weed after tooth extraction can indeed cause a dry socket in your mouth since it interrupts the healing process and can cause blood clots to move too early leaving the bone of the tooth naked.

Down below, we’ve composed a guide which will take you through what dry socket is, symptoms of dry socket, more about vaping and dental health as well as how to avoid a dry socket when vaping.

What Is Dry Socket?

Dry socket is a dental condition which can occur after getting a tooth extraction, it can cause severe pain since the blood clot fails to form where the tooth was taken out.

If a blood clot fails to form then food debris can irritate the wound and oral tissues causing pain, this typically happens between 2-3 days after tooth extraction.

How Does Vaping Weed Cause Dry Sockets?

Using a cannabis vape can interfere with the healing process and cause dry socket since the suction when vaping can cause the dry socket to move, the same as sucking through a straw therefore vaping and dry socket have a direct relationship.

Symptoms Of Dry Socket

If you suspect you have developed a dry socket after vaping then you might be experiencing the following symptoms below.

• Pain.
• Pain radiating to the ear.
• White bone where the tooth was extracted.
• Bad breath and taste in the mouth.

Is Vaping Weed Bad For Your Dental Health?

Now we know cannabis vaping habits could potentially cause a dry socket in your mouth, you might be wondering how the effects of vaping could affect your dental health in the long term.

• Gives dry mouth – Smoking THC causes a dry mouth due to less salivary flow, this can increase the amount of plaque accumulation on the teeth and cause poor dental health.
• Acts as a carcinogen – In some cases it has been proven that cannabis smoke can be a carcinogen which can cause lesions in the mouth.
• Can change oral tissues and cause burns – Vapes emit smoke at very high temperatures which could potentially cause burns in the mouth, it also causes more bumps and uneven color in the mouth.
• Affects the whole body – Vaping THC has huge effects on your whole body, your cardiovascular health, immune and respiratory health are also affected by inhaling this smoke through your mouth.

How Long Do I Have To Wait Before Vaping After A Tooth Extraction?

If you’re a weed vaper you might be curious as to how long you have to wait to do vaping after tooth extraction.

Most dental professionals will likely suggest you stop vaping for a few weeks after a tooth extraction to allow the healing sites to close, however, if you want to vape sooner we would suggest waiting a minimum of 72 hours.

Can I Vape Weed After A Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Wisdom tooth extraction is a common procedure many of us have to go through, just like normal tooth extraction, you want to avoid vaping till at least 72 hours after your extraction to avoid infection.

It’s also worth noting you might be given pain medications after wisdom teeth extraction and THC could interfere with these pain meds making you more drowsy.

How Can I Avoid A Dry Socket When Vaping?

If you want to use your vape pen after a tooth extraction you need to make sure you’re using your vape properly to avoid dry socket.

We’ve listed some tips below to help you out below.

• Inhale lightly and avoid using too much suction when smoking on the vape.
• Cover the tooth extraction with gauze.
• Ask your dentist to stitch the extraction sites to prevent infection.

Vaping Vs Smoking Weed – Which Is Worse For Your Dental Health?

Many people argue that smoking/vaping tobacco is worse for your health than vaping weed, but is this true when it comes to dental health?

We all know smoking nicotine is bad for your dental health causing oral cancer, gum disease, bad breath and stained teeth. Vapes that contain cannabis however can also damage your oral tissue and expose you to the chemicals in the vape cartridges.

The average vape cartridge also contains propylene glycol which can dry your mouth out further causing plaque buildup.

Overall, both e-cigarette and vaping products are not ideal for good dental health and can contribute to poor oral health problems in comparison to a non-smoker.

Frequently Asked Questions About Vaping Weed & Dry Sockets

Is wisdom teeth removal painful?

The area around your wisdom teeth will be numbed during extraction, therefore, you will not feel pain, you might feel post-op pain however around 6 hours after, this is where you can take pain control.

Is vape juice bad for your health?

Vape juice is not ideal for your oral and respiratory health because it contains chemicals, especially if it contains nicotine.

Can vaping weed interfere with narcotic pain medication?

We strongly suggest never mixing weed with strong pain medication since it can have serious side effects such as drowsiness and slow reaction times.

Is dry socket treatable?

Dry sockets might be very painful but are treatable and are normally packed with a medicated gel to reduce pain and promote healing.

Will a wet gauze help me avoid a dry socket?

If you do want to vape after a tooth extraction you can place gauze over the area for added protection from infection.

Is dry socket common?

Dry socket typically occurs in 1-3% of all patients who have a tooth extraction.

Which teeth get dry socket more?

Wisdom teeth tend to be the most prone to getting dry socket due to their location where food debris can often get stuck.

Can a dry socket resolve itself?

In some cases, with pain medication, a dry socket can resolve itself with time and care to keep the area clean.

Final Words

Overall, there is a direct relationship between vaping and developing a dry socket after tooth extraction, this is because the suctions can dislodge blood clots and disrupt healing.

To prevent dry socket we suggest waiting 72 hours or longer after extraction before vaping, vaping, in general, can cause poor oral health, so we suggest getting your teeth checked often.