Show 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 RecommendationsBesides avoiding straws, there are other instructions that you should follow after oral surgery to prevent further inconveniences:
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!
Randomized Controlled Trial Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial Straws do not cause dry sockets when third molars are extractedCharles R Bloomer. Tex Dent J. 2012 Jan. AbstractPurpose: To provide evidence in contrast to a widely held belief that the dry socket, ie Alveolar Osteitis (AO), is primarily a biological process and not a mechanical disruption or removal of the clot due to suction from utilizing a straw in the postoperative period. Patients and methods: Sixty randomly selected patients had all 4 third molars extracted. One half of the patients were given straws to use with all meals for 2 days after surgery. Results: Two-hundred-twenty teeth were extracted. No dry socket occurred in the maxilla, 17 occurred in the mandible; 8 or 15% who had used a straw and 9 or 15% who did not. Conclusion: There is no evidence that there is an increased incidence of dry sockets when using a straw in the first 2 days after third molars have been extracted. Republished in
Similar articles
Cited by
Publication typesMeSH termsSubstances |