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Rockwall Oral Surgery

ALWAYS AVOID USING STRAWS FOLLOWING ORAL SURGERY

When you are recovering from oral surgery, you have a list of things you should do and a list of things you should not do. The problem that many people run into is if they don’t understand why they are told not to do something, they do it anyway.

That is what happens when it comes to the use of straws after oral surgery. Many do not know why this is true, so they ignore it.


What Happens after Oral Surgery


When you have oral surgery to remove a tooth or some other form of oral surgery, the surgical site will need time to heal. There are some procedures that require stitches. In the case of a tooth extraction, a blood clot will form over the site where the tooth once was. That blood clot will allow the gums and the tooth to heal.

One of the dangers after oral surgery is a dry socket. This occurs when the blood clot becomes dislodged and leaves the socket where a tooth was exposed. Bacteria can grow and can lead to an infection. If the stitches get torn this can also open a spot where the bacteria can grow.


How A Straw Causes Problems


There are a few ways that a straw can create problems after oral surgery. The first is when you suck on a straw. You can create a vacuum that can dislodge the all-important blood clot at the site of an extraction. It may not seem like it can create that type of suction, but it will happen.

A second way that a straw can affect the surgical site is through contact. A straw can scrape the surgical site and can affect any stitches that are in place. The straw may not seem strong enough, but it can have sharp edges and can cause damage if you are not careful.

We can help you with all your dental needs. Contact our office to schedule an appointment.