Can I Smoke After A Root Canal? What You Should Know After Treatment

Yes, You Can Smoke After A Root Canal (But It’s Not A Good Idea)

Smoking after a root canal will not cause any damage to your newly-restored tooth. Unlike a tooth extraction, for example, there’s no risk of “dry socket” or similar complications from smoking a cigarette after your root canal.

However, smoking after your root canal may slow down your recovery. Smoking impairs proper blood flow, damages cells in your mouth, and causes inflammation. Smoking after your root canal could slow down your healing, or even raise your risk of root canal failure.

Also, smoking dramatically raises your risk of getting more tooth infections that may require treatment with root canals. Smokers have a 1.7x higher likelihood of needing root canals compared to non-smokers.

Now Is A Great Time To Quit Smoking For Good!

If you want to make sure that your root canal heals properly, avoiding smoking for a few days or up to a week is a good idea. And once you’ve made it that long, you have a great opportunity to quit smoking completely.

Smoking is bad for your oral health and your overall health, too, and quitting is the best way to reverse the harmful effects of smoking on your mouth, lungs, and the rest of your body. If you’re thinking about quitting smoking, there are a few strategies you can use that may help you kick the habit:

• Nicotine replacement therapy – You can discuss nicotine replacement therapy such as patches or nicotine gum with your physician. Gradually tapering down your nicotine doses with nicotine replacement therapy is a very effective way to quit smoking.‍
• Chewing gum or toothpicks – Chewing gum or chewing on flavored toothpicks can be a good replacement for smoking, since it will help stimulate your mouth when you would normally smoke.‍
• Distract yourself – Picking up new hobbies, getting things done around the house, and otherwise distracting yourself from your cravings can help you get through the worst part of nicotine withdrawals.‍
• Get active – Exercise, even low-impact exercise like walking, may help curb some of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and help you feel better as you quit smoking. Exercising also can help you improve your heart and lung health, which are weakened by smoking.

Stop Smoking After Your Root Canal, And You May Not Need Another One!

If you get a root canal and you stop smoking, your oral health and overall health will immediately start to improve. This is a great opportunity to stop smoking once and for all, and enjoy the benefits of a tobacco-free life.

But whether you’re a smoker or a non-smoker, it’s important to get root canals to treat infected teeth in Tampa. If your tooth hurts and you need help, give Tampa Smile Co. a call at (801) 837-2380 or contact us online. Dr. Mohammed Bawany is always accepting new patients in Tampa, so get in touch right away for the help you need.

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