Dry Sockets
Smoking and tooth extractions don’t mix; and when they do it’s a painful combination. An alveolar osteitis also known as a dry socket occurs when a bone has been exposed in the place where the tooth was taken out.
Usually, a blood clot appears and healing occurs automatically after the dental procedure. However, if the clot is lost partially or prematurely, the bone underneath causes severe pain and throbs as though the tooth ache is still there. This is accompanied by a foul smell in the mouth.
In order to alleviate pain, the dentist usually advises that there will be no sucking through straws, nor rising or smoking for the next 48 to 72 hours.