How Long Should I Wait to Smoke Weed After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Stoners who have to get their wisdom teeth removed typically have one major question: How long should I wait to smoke weed after wisdom teeth removal? If you’re wondering when you can toke up again after your surgery, read on!
July 20, 2021
What happens after wisdom tooth removal
Post-surgery, you should expect the feeling in your mouth to return after waking up. Many people experience swelling and pain after the surgery. Your doctor is likely to prescribe or recommend some pain-relievers to help you manage.
After the surgery, you won’t just be in pain, but you will be in recovery from the procedure. As such, you will not be able to eat many things and will need to stick to very soft foods. Additionally, you are supposed to avoid alcohol, caffeine, and smoking. It is also important to not use straws after wisdom tooth extraction.
What happens if I smoke weed after wisdom tooth surgery?
Many people are eager to get back to their weed smoking habits after their wisdom teeth extraction. Tread carefully if you are one of those people. While you may be tempted to smoke weed to provide some much-needed pain relief, you may be prolonging the whole process.
Smoking after wisdom tooth surgery may actually increase the level of pain at the site. Additionally, it can slow down the healing process as it can limit blood flow to your gums.
The biggest complication that can come from smoking after surgery is a dry socket. Dry sockets occur when the protective blood clot that developed over the removal site gets dislodged.
Typically, the clot sits over the removal site and protects the area while it heals. You’ll know if it becomes dislodged because it will be painful and uncomfortable.
The risk of developing a dry socket is also why you are not supposed to use straws after surgery. The sucking motion needed to use a straw and to smoke is a common cause of the dislodged clot.
How long after surgery can I smoke weed?
Different experts may recommend slightly different timelines, but the bottom line is you should not smoke right after you undergo surgery. It is advised to wait until at least some of the healing process has occurred.
One oral surgeon website recommends waiting until at least five days post-surgery to smoke anything. Yes, they specify that this includes cannabis, even from vaporizers.
Other sites recommend at least 72 hours of no smoking after surgery. This number is used in a lot of dental blogs, as dry sockets typically occur within the first 1-3 days after surgery.
We are not experts on oral surgery by any means. If you’re not sure how long you should wait, talk to your oral surgeon and follow their guidelines, as they will have more context about the nature of your specific recovery.
Can I still get high after I get my wisdom teeth removed?
We just told you not to smoke after surgery! But don’t worry, you can still get high. Remember that vaping is included in the list of no-nos because it requires the same sucking action as smoking or using a straw, which increases your risk of developing dry sockets.
Be sure to keep your mouth nice and hydrated if you decide to use cannabis in some other capacity. If you tend to get cotton mouth from edibles, drink a lot of water to prevent any complications from a dry mouth.
Edibles may work for some, but if you are in pain post-surgery, you’re not going to want to chew. A lot of the edibles sold at our Bellingham pot shop and other locations are either chewy, hard, or otherwise not ideal for someone fresh out of surgery.
That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck, though. There are plenty of other ways to get high after your wisdom tooth extraction.
Best cannabis products to use after a wisdom tooth extraction
Again, it’s best to talk to your oral surgeon about options post-surgery. They will have the most tailored advice for your specific scenario.
If you decide to use cannabis after surgery and want to make it as easy on your body to recover as possible, we recommend the following product types.
Infused beverages
You are not supposed to use a straw post-surgery, but hydration is still key. There is nothing wrong with drinking an infused beverage to get your weed dose.
There are plenty of cannabis beverages available at our Seattle weed store and other locations. From lemonade to iced tea and classic soda flavors, there are plenty of options to choose from if you decide to drink your daily dose.
Tinctures
Tinctures are another option for delivering a dose of THC without smoke or vapor. Tinctures can be taken sublingually (held under the tongue) or just swallowed.
We recommend swallowing tinctures as you would any other beverage to avoid any complications with the whole under-the-tongue thing.
There are plenty of tinctures available at our North Spokane dispensary and other locations across the state. Whether it’s THC, CBD, or a combination of the two that you are looking for, we’ve got you covered.
The bottom line
As we mentioned before, we are nowhere near experts on any subjects related to oral health. Therefore, talking to your oral surgeon about an upcoming extraction is going to provide more tailored advice than this blog.
Still, if you are wondering if you can smoke cannabis after your extraction, we hope we’ve helped you find answers.
It’s not fun to have to put your daily toke on hold, but it is a lot better than experiencing a painful complication from surgery. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait for a long period of time before you can smoke again after surgery.
Try out some infused beverages or cannabis tinctures if you are looking for a way to get high without complications. We have plenty in stock at all of our Washington dispensary locations.
Stop by your local Piece of Mind Cannabis today!
Piece of Mind Cannabis is a medical marijuana and recreational Cannabis dispensary with locations in North Spokane, South Spokane, Bellingham, and Pullman!
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