

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.