My daughter had her wisdom teeth out 10/9 and I was curious about drinking through a straw. I know I have had dry socket twice after an extraction, and that is definitely pain I do not want her to experience.

My question is, how long should she continue to not use a straw? I can't remember what I was told (as it has been many years), and everywhere I have looked seems to give a different answer. Her paperwork just said no drinking through a straw, but gives no timeline. I figured we are 11 days out, and she should be fine, but still a little hesitant.

After 11 days she should be fine. My dentist told me to avoid it for a week.

Perhaps obvious, but I would also add that I'd stick to normal liquids, not a thick milkshake or smoothie...

Drinking through a straw is reportedly the quickest way to get get utterly plowed on beer.

I would think she might avoid it until the return visit to her oral surgeon.

This is sort of antique post-op advice, along with no rinsing, spitting or carbonated beverages. The objective is not to disrupt the forming blood clot, which could expose the healing socket to bad stuff, but really after the first 24-48 hours, you should be good to go with just normal home care (mild heat, warm saline rinses, brushing teeth - all gently). The absolute worst thing for a post-op osteitis (dry socket) is smoking within the first 2 or 3 days (longer is better). Diabetics, medically compromised patients and females are at higher risk; complete healing following surgical removal of full-bore impacted 3rd molars (wisdom teeth) can take upwards of 3-6 months; if an osteitis does develop, it can be necessary to pack the socket with medicated gauze several times to relieve symptoms (healing takes about the same amount of time). If it feels great after a few days following surgery, then begins to feel worse a couple of weeks out, time to go back to the surgeon to evaluate and possibly treat.

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Originally posted by Sig2340:
Drinking through a straw is reportedly the quickest way to get get utterly plowed on beer.

No a funnel and 1/2" hose is even faster!

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No a funnel and 1/2" hose is even faster!

And not in your mouth.

Smoking is same effect on clotting/ healing due to vacuum.

I’ve heard......

^^^^^^

Smoking is way worse due to the nicotine and other chemicals affecting healing/blood flow. I agree with Doc H. Don’t be sucking milkshakes through a straw for the first few days, but 11 days out is fine.

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Originally posted by Georgeair:
Smoking is same effect on clotting/ healing due to vacuum.

I’ve heard......

Smoking is bad because the products of burning tobacco affect the ability of blood cells to clump together, cause a chronic inflammatory reaction and release of histamines which delays healing, constricts blood vessels thereby decreasing blood flow to remove bad stuff, and inhibit production of enzymes which assist cell repair. Smoking within the first 24 hours of surgery increases the risk of post-op osteitis by 40% according to some research. Incidence in general following removal of impacted third molars is 25-30 percent; smoking increases that to about a 50/50 chance.

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Originally posted by AZSigs:
I would think she might avoid it until the return visit to her oral surgeon.

This would be my advice also. Some people heal faster than others. Being young, she is probably one of them. However, it’s best to get the all clear from the doc first.

The strange this is, the oral surgeon said there would be no need for a post-op follow up unless she was having issues, which I found strange.

I told her to do what she felt comfortable with doing. I told her no sodas yet, and definitely nothing thick like a milkshake.

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Originally posted by RBeach:
The strange this is, the oral surgeon said there would be no need for a post-op follow up unless she was having issues, which I found strange.

I told her to do what she felt comfortable with doing. I told her no sodas yet, and definitely nothing thick like a milkshake.

I’m sure things have changed since I got mine out, but I had gauze packing that had to be removed. Sounds like your daughter didn’t.

When she starts using a straw again, I’d suggest she starts with thin liquids and not milkshakes.