Vaping and Dry Sockets

[FinchX]

It's day 2 of vaping after my tooth extraction. Just some additional information... My family on both sides just naturally has bad teeth, myself included, so I don't get any kind of repair work done, I simply get them extracted.

I had a broken back molar that became abscessed... Was excruciating. I've had dry sockets in the past when I was still a smoker and THIS was horrible. Even on hydrocodone it felt like someone with cerebral palsy was twisting a knife down into my gums. HENCE, I was desperate, to say the least, but I'm on unemployment from the company shutting down and simply didn't have much money, but a friend told me of a dentist within driving range that only charges $150 for extractions.

So of course, I set up an appointment and went. The dentist looked like an ex-roadie for Motörhead, no joke. And the word ROUGH simply doesn't cover it. This man was a barbarian. My entire jaw, both sides, top and bottom is still aching from being over worked. He only gave me two shots of Novocain even though I typically require 4-5. He tried slicing along my gums and pulling it directly. When that didn't work, he tried breaking it more. When it wouldn't break, he took a drill to it, then worked it until it shattered, and pulled the pieces out individually. I literally felt EVERYTHING. I've already warned my blog readers and Facebook friends to stay away from him, and left a review on Yelp...lol.

Anyway, to the topic at hand... As I said, I have had dry sockets in the past while still smoking. And I'm being called an idiot by friends and family for vaping after the extraction, which I am... I'm not delusional and I'm well aware I'm taking a very dumb risk here, but I was a chain smoker, and I chain vape. Any of you who can relate in any way understand the deep seeded addiction involved with nicotine.

So, I've been vaping for two days now after my extraction. I had it done early yesterday. So far, knock on wood, and please keep me in your best wishes..lol, but no dry socket. I have been taking precautions which I'll mention to anyone interested, and if anyone has any other advice or ideas, I'll be happy to read them.

Precautions I'm taking: The tanks I'm using are the Kanger Aerotank Mega, and the Aspire Nautilus. Both of which offer adjustable airflow, so I've got it adjusted to be wide open, leaving practically no pull resistance whatsoever. Even at that, I'm still going easy on them. I'm also keeping moist gauze packed over the extraction point anytime I'm vaping heavily. Taking in a LOT of fluids. Mostly bottled water, Gatorade, and iced tea.

Like I said, so far so good, and I'm hoping it remains this way. Dry sockets are something I wouldn't wish upon my enemies, so wish me the best of luck, please. I'll keep this thread updated, especially if I develop one, so hopefully I won't and taking these steps will prevent them. Hoping this thread will help any of you who get extensive dental work or extractions done.

And I know the media has completely run its course on this all day, but I'd like to say RIP Robin Williams. It's rare that a celebrity death gets to me, but his has truly had an impact. I'm in my early 30s, so he entertained me as a child with his movies and voices for animated flicks. And his obscene, profane comedy specials made me laugh to the point of tears as an adult. He will be missed.

 

[Circa Survivor]

Dental work is the WORST, since there's pretty much nothing you can so to alleviate the pain. I just had four temp crowns taken off and 4 put on all in one appointment. Not fun. Your experience sounds horrible. Good dental work isn't cheap, and cheap dental work isn't good. I would just play it safe and try not to inhale too hard. Hope you feel better

 

[FinchX]

Thanks Circa! I will admit that compared to having the tooth in, I'm definitely much better.

It was horrible, and you're absolutely right about cheap dental work.

Your recent work doesn't sound at all pleasurable. When I was still in high school and college, and trying to save my teeth as long as possible, I had one crown done. I couldn't believe the amount of soreness and how tender the area was after. Definitely not a fun procedure either, hoping they're either no longer bothering you, or they'll stop soon.

And so far so good. When I developed the dry socket while still smoking, it was a full blown nightmare by the middle of day 2. And I'm starting day 3 with no problems yet. Like I said, I've got the airflow on my Nautilus and my Aerotank Mega set to wide open to help ensure I don't pull too hard. And hopefully the moist gauze will prevent the vapor from pulling much moisture from the extraction site. I'm sure doing that is going to somehow prolong its healing, but I do let it breathe, so to speak, for a while here and there. Plus there's been zero bleeding so that's definitely a good sign.

It bled for quite a while. Was my own fault. I live in the middle of nowhere and had to drive to the nearest city for the dental visit. Well, I went to see the new Ninja Turtles movie 2 hours after the extraction and drank two large bottles of water with no gauze in during the movie. (I'm only 31... I grew up with the ninja turtles, so couldn't pass up seeing the new movie. Wasn't bad really). Anyway, when I finally got home, I bit down to hold pressure on a cold wet tea bag, and that stopped the bleeding.

 

[Despraci]

I hope you feel better soon. I just went through the same thing with a root canal that went bad. The endodontist kept pushing me off till the infection almost killed me. Over a month later the infection still flaring up, oral surgeon took the took out and still trying to track down the remaining cause of the pain, swelling, and infection. Antibiotics aren't really helping either.

One nice thing is that it was easier to put down the mod and get healthy over trying to stop smoking cold turkey. And on a side note, while researching what steps my doctors and I might try next, I see Japan is using PG in a root canal alternative to delivery medicine through the dental tubes of a tooth in the 3MIX-MP. I should've went to Japan for my dental work.

To avoid dry sockets I always kept gauze in my moth over the socket as I vaped (or smoked in the past) with zero issues. In fact vaping seemed to irritate the socket less. My socket healed perfect after the extraction... unfortunately I think the bacteria is hanging on a lot longer.

 

[FinchX]

Ugh.., never had a root canal, and never want to. My mother had one go bad as well, but her dentist couldn't figure out what had happened, so she lived with the pain 2 months before going to another dentist. I'd have to ask her what it was, but the 2nd dentist figured it out.

I feel you on the infection... I had to take two rounds of antibiotics before they'd extract this tooth. And for me, anyway, the infection is what really makes the pain so much worse, so my heart goes out to you, my fellow sufferer...

Good to hear the gauze trick worked for you. I was hoping there was some real merit behind me doing it...lol.

That's very interesting about japan using propylene glycol for the procedure. Has any of your research explained their reasoning or theories for using it?

After dealing with my bad tooth for almost a month before finally going through absolute torture getting it extracted, I really hope your problems get resolved soon. Dental pain like all this should be reserved as punishment for rapists and child molestors... not something we decent people are forced to go through...

 

[GinnyTx]

Finch, glad you didn't get one, having had one and only one thank God it was right up there with like having child labor in your jaw(and numerous dental issues/surgeries, root canals, extractions implants, perm partials, Welsh/Irish *knowing smile* Lets just say they're pretty but rotten, I fit right in when I visited the cousins in Liverpool *lol*)

but I have smoked after extractions (yeah that's an addict behavior) no sucking on straws though

but you know us nurses we're the WORST patients. I've got to have some more extractions if this implant doesn't "take" so I'll let you know (as I'll be vaping right after too) *lol*

 

[Traijan]

I had full mouth extraction last year. The original 16 or 18 root canals that I had to have done about 30 years ago caused me a lot of grief. In any event, I went back to the dentist the day after the full mouth extraction and even though I hadn't smoked that morning the dentist knew right away and told me that I was a smoker and that I should lay off the cigarettes until all of my mouth had healed. Although they sutured up most of the extraction points, some were left unsutured and he was concerned about dry socket if I continued to smoke, especially when the time came for me to be able to remove the dentures in a few days after the extractions.

When I told him that I was a chain smoker and just couldn't do without my cigarettes he said he understood the situation as he was an ex smoker and advised me that when I smoke, I should simply take a drag on the cigarette without closing my mouth all the way around the cigarette so that I'm not making nearly as much suction and getting a lot of air bypassing the cigarette to avoid the normal suction. That's what I did and even though I had had the whole mouth extraction, I didn't get one dry socket.

When I first started to vape, that was my normal vape style, I'd not close my mouth all the way around the drip tip to seal it off and instead got air coming in around the drip tip. Now I tightly seal my mouth around the drip tip but when first starting, not so much. I imagine that *may* help to reduce the suction when vaping or smoking like it did for me.

I was extremely thankful to finally stop trying to save my teeth and have them all removed, best thing I could have done for myself. I had zero pain from the full mouth extractions, and hell... I smile a lot now and show off my pearly whites without even realizing it, then all of a sudden I'll realize that my teeth are showing and quickly close my mouth to hide them (because I did that for so long) and then open my mouth again realizing that I've no longer got smokers teeth to hide.

Anyway, loosen your lips around the drip tip should help to lower the suction level when vaping or smoking, but you still have to be careful, dry socket I'm told can be quite painful.

 

[carrdoc]

wishing luck your way.i had 3 wisdom teeth pulled in july, had stopped cigs in may so only vaping.Did continue vaping after work done and did develop dry socket.Holy crap, some of the worst pain I have ever had,including work injuries and motorcycle crash.Surgeun said 50/50 chance of getting dry socket,kinda depends on person more than anyting.

 

[FinchX]

Finch, glad you didn't get one, having had one and only one thank God it was right up there with like having child labor in your jaw(and numerous dental issues/surgeries, root canals, extractions implants, perm partials, Welsh/Irish *knowing smile* Lets just say they're pretty but rotten, I fit right in when I visited the cousins in Liverpool *lol*)

but I have smoked after extractions (yeah that's an addict behavior) no sucking on straws though

but you know us nurses we're the WORST patients. I've got to have some more extractions if this implant doesn't "take" so I'll let you know (as I'll be vaping right after too) *lol*

Yeah I've only had one myself as well, but it was dreadful. Never been through labor, but after hearing that I now have a leg to stand on when my sister complains...lol.

I hear you, I'd fit right in too lol! I've avoided all that kind of work though. I refuse to spend that kind of money on my teeth. Believe me, I know how that sounds, but my teeth have always been bad. Both sides of my family are the same way. When I was about 13, my mother had a dentist put some kind of protective sealants on every one of my molars to try and keep the family curse from hitting me. I went back a year later so they could clean my teeth and check on the sealants, or whatever they were called. Dentist looks in my mouth and just says "What....the....uhm... I'll be right back." In that year, whatever the protective sealants were made of had completely come off and I literally had a cavity in EVERY molar they'd treated.

After giving me the news, the dentist apologized before telling me that due to how the sealant wore off, I would more than likely experience problems with my molars the rest of my life, which has proven true thus far.

For years it was just cavities and caps, etc... Nothing serious. Now they're literally just breaking. Large chunks coming clean off. I'll be joining every family member by being in dentures before I'm 40. My aunt is the only one to hold onto hers longer, and she's spent thousands and been through hell. Most recently, her gum line began receding and they used organ donor gum tissue, cutting open her gums and packing the donated tissue along it kind of like a skin graft.

If you end up getting the extractions, definitely get a tank with adjustable airflow if you don't already have one, leave it wide open, and use the gauze trick. It's worked for me this far

 

[FinchX]

I had full mouth extraction last year. The original 16 or 18 root canals that I had to have done about 30 years ago caused me a lot of grief. In any event, I went back to the dentist the day after the full mouth extraction and even though I hadn't smoked that morning the dentist knew right away and told me that I was a smoker and that I should lay off the cigarettes until all of my mouth had healed. Although they sutured up most of the extraction points, some were left unsutured and he was concerned about dry socket if I continued to smoke, especially when the time came for me to be able to remove the dentures in a few days after the extractions.

When I told him that I was a chain smoker and just couldn't do without my cigarettes he said he understood the situation as he was an ex smoker and advised me that when I smoke, I should simply take a drag on the cigarette without closing my mouth all the way around the cigarette so that I'm not making nearly as much suction and getting a lot of air bypassing the cigarette to avoid the normal suction. That's what I did and even though I had had the whole mouth extraction, I didn't get one dry socket.

When I first started to vape, that was my normal vape style, I'd not close my mouth all the way around the drip tip to seal it off and instead got air coming in around the drip tip. Now I tightly seal my mouth around the drip tip but when first starting, not so much. I imagine that *may* help to reduce the suction when vaping or smoking like it did for me.

I was extremely thankful to finally stop trying to save my teeth and have them all removed, best thing I could have done for myself. I had zero pain from the full mouth extractions, and hell... I smile a lot now and show off my pearly whites without even realizing it, then all of a sudden I'll realize that my teeth are showing and quickly close my mouth to hide them (because I did that for so long) and then open my mouth again realizing that I've no longer got smokers teeth to hide.

Anyway, loosen your lips around the drip tip should help to lower the suction level when vaping or smoking, but you still have to be careful, dry socket I'm told can be quite painful.

Honestly, I can't wait until I'm at a point of having them all out. I don't have the money for implants like I wish I could get (despite the pain and trouble that'd be involved) but even a BAD pair of dentures would be appealing than my teeth.

And I WISH I simply had ugly smoker's teeth. Like I mentioned above, my molars are all breaking. My front teeth are what I find most embarrassing. Similar to my aunt, my gum line has receded a bit. And all of my front teeth are decaying along the gum lines due to it. Some are simply discolored along the gums, and others actually have gaps forming where they've eroded along the gums.

So rather than looking like smoker's teeth, mine look more like .... addict teeth. I've perfected the art of smiling and laughing without showing them. I have two relatives (a sibling and their significant other) who were .... addicts... ruined their lives completely, and they're just now getting things together. For the sake of their children they finally decided to enroll in rehab and are doing much better.

But when the three of us smile standing next to each other, our teeth look just alike, except they're missing more than I am. And I've never in my life even been around that kind of stuff, much less used it.

So yeah, I'm honestly quite envious that you've already gotten your bad teeth out and have a smile you don't have to hide.

And thanks for the advice, that's actually how I was hitting my ecig when I first began using it a few hours after the extraction. I started closing my lips around the driptip last night, but I'm still not pulling hard at all by any means, and I've still got the airflow adjusted to be wide open.

 

[volume control]

I had all 4 wisdom teeth out and kept smoking. I just rammed that gauze against the sockets so they wouldn't become pressurized so to speak, worked fine. Good Luck!!

 

[Nytebreed]

I was rocking a broken tooth for about 6 months, then one morning I woke up and it looked like I stuffed a pair of tube socks in my cheek. It'd didn't feel pleasant either.
Abscess...check. Fortunately I was able to go to work that day and a local dental clinic was able to take care of it that afternoon. I did continue to vape, but took it very easy on the draw. Took out the initial gauze about an hour and a half later when I got settled at home, and didn't even need to use any of the spares they gave me. The wick in my valkyrie is exactly that sterile cotton gauze.
Follow the aftercare and don't take monster rips and it should be fine. I think that it helps that the vapor is moist where the smoke is desiccating. Suction is still a factor though so you don't blow out the clot.

 

[Despraci]

Ugh.., never had a root canal, and never want to. My mother had one go bad as well, but her dentist couldn't figure out what had happened, so she lived with the pain 2 months before going to another dentist. I'd have to ask her what it was, but the 2nd dentist figured it out.

I feel you on the infection... I had to take two rounds of antibiotics before they'd extract this tooth. And for me, anyway, the infection is what really makes the pain so much worse, so my heart goes out to you, my fellow sufferer...

Good to hear the gauze trick worked for you. I was hoping there was some real merit behind me doing it...lol.

That's very interesting about japan using propylene glycol for the procedure. Has any of your research explained their reasoning or theories for using it?

After dealing with my bad tooth for almost a month before finally going through absolute torture getting it extracted, I really hope your problems get resolved soon. Dental pain like all this should be reserved as punishment for rapists and child molestors... not something we decent people are forced to go through...

They use the PG as the delivery agent for the meds. So rather then drilling to add the meds to the base of the root canal, the PG can seep it's way through the dental tubes into the root and rid the infection. It's only 30-40% success rate... but I rather try that first before another root canal.

I am slowly just going to replace all my crowned teeth with implants. I've had one for many years now and no issues what so ever.

 

[Jackiej5407]

As someone right at the 1/3 point in getting dental implants, everyone's story is one I can relate to. Mid-June I had 9 molars extracted by a Periodontist (7 upper, 2 back lower) due to smoking for 40+ years and about a decade of dental neglect/aversion when I was in my 30s. Fortunately (VERY fortunately), I had no dry socket from the multiple extractions. I did vape on my Nautilus on the wide-open hole with 12 mg nic instead of my usual 24 mg. I vaped right after the surgery, very slow & easy, and avoided straws and spitting (causes pressure) for the first 5 days. Other than facial swelling and bruising (as if that's not enough), I came through it well.

Next up is a full mouth CT scan to see if I have enough bone on the uppers to support implants. My Perio doesn't think I will, so I get a 2nd surgery first of Sept for a double sinus lift to expose upper jaw bone. THAT has to heal for another 4 mos or so, at which time I go in for the implant rods which will need to heal for yet another 3-4 months ... FINALLY followed by the fake teeth/caps put on the end of the implant rods.

Sheesh! If I had known smoking would cause all this dental garbage when I hit 60 ... would I have quit smoking in my 20s or 30s??? H. E. Double L. N-O !!! How sad.

 

[Circa Survivor]

I also had all my wisdom teeth out at once but I still smoked. I got lucky and never had any dry sockets, but after I quit smoking and started vaping I would have slapped my self in the face for doing that to my mouth. Give it a week or two finch, and you should be good. If you have continuous pain after that, go back and get it checked out.

 

[FinchX]

I had all of my wisdom teeth cut out at once as well and continued smoking with no dry sockets, back when I was 18.

And other than both upper and lower jaws on both sides aching from soreness, having been manhandled by that butcher, my pain levels are relatively low.

And no offense at all intended, in fact I'm rather envious.. But several of you must either have great insurance, or must be fairly well off financially in order to get so much implant work done. Or have the prices of those procedures dropped DRAMATICALLY in the last couple of years since I looked into it? I understand spending a lot of money on new teeth, but when I was looking around, taking into account the average prices per implant that I found, I could buy a fairly nice new car like a honda civic for what getting my entire mouth was going to cost me...lol

 

[Jackiej5407]

You got THAT right on the cost of implants = a brand new car! If I were not 61 y.o. and working with a husband who also still works and a savings acct we are emptying to PAY for this .... I sure would not be fortunate enough to afford them.

 

[Circa Survivor]

My insurance only covered 1/5th of the cost, but luckily the office I went to (or ONE of the dentists there) was in my network, so they're only allowed to charge a certain amount per procedure.

That's good that your pain level is low. I had jaw problems for 2 years, every day the pain would come and go and wake me up in the middle of the night, almost in tears. I only recently went to a dentist (as mentioned above) and had TMJ, which the jaw pain has virtually stopped after 4 crowns and a super expensive molded night guard ($300 O_O) Now I just have to do something about these constant headaches I've had for 15 years (hello brain tumor lol....)

 

[Dreaswi]

This is going to sound very strange but vaping through your nose will help. It stops from creating suction in your mouth and thus increasing the chance of a healthy recovery and avoiding the dreaded dry sockets.

It only takes one person to start a revolution.

 

[Dana A]

My family had weak teeth also. I got full dentures at age 26 by choice. Over the years I smoked every time I had a tooth pulled. I just drew in very lightly so as not to create suction and it went just fine every time. I even chain smoked after having them all pulled for dentures. The key is not to create any suction. I wish my analogs had had adjustable air flow during those times. I bet you will be just fine. Just make sure you draw very very lightly. Good luck. I have totally been in your shoes.