Can i drink hot coffee after wisdom tooth extraction

Going into a wisdom tooth removal can be very scary, and you may be at a loss with how this dental procedure will impact your day-to-day routine. A common question dentists get before surgery is how you're supposed to care for your teeth after.

Can you drink coffee after having your wisdom tooth removed?

You shouldn’t drink coffee for the first couple of days after your wisdom tooth removal surgery. Drinking coffee can impact the healing process. However, you should be able to go back to drinking coffee after a week. 

We'll break down how soon you can get back to your favorite beverages and why it's better to hit pause on the caffeine intake right after getting your wisdom tooth removed. 

NOTE: You should consult with your oral surgeon to get exact recommendations for the recovery process following wisdom teeth removal surgery!

Why Shouldn’t You Drink Coffee After Wisdom Teeth Surgery?

You shouldn't drink coffee after wisdom teeth surgery because it can impact blood clot formation and give you a dry tooth socket. This means that the surgery site won't properly heal and could cause other long-term issues. 

There are a whole host of reasons you should avoid coffee following dental surgeries, including wisdom tooth extraction.

Caffeine can have unexpected impacts with different types of pain medication you may be prescribed following the surgery. So, it's also a good idea to ask your doctor how your medicine may interact with anything you digest. 

Hot beverages can dislodge or prevent a blood clot from forming and cause a dry socket. Therefore, hot coffee should never be drunk immediately after a wisdom tooth surgery because it can cause gum inflammation and discourage blood clot formation. The extreme temperature difference can make even a small sip impactful. 

Drinking coffee can also make you have to scrub harder when brushing your teeth post-op, and you could hurt yourself. Even sucking on a straw or out of a cup of iced coffee could also result in more bleeding and minor pain. 

So, it's essential to follow your dentist's or oral surgeon's instructions after the surgery.

This medical advice is designed to give you a quick recovery with the best outcomes. You need to listen to medical professionals about this, even if it means you're a little more groggy after the surgery. 

Generally, even a simple dental procedure can become very painful if you don’t follow your dentist’s sensible advice. 

What Is a Dry Socket?

A dry socket is when the tooth socket becomes dried out, and it isn’t healing properly because a blood clot doesn't form. The nerve endings in your socket become irritated and exposed, and healing cannot continue. It’s very painful and should be treated as soon as symptoms are felt. 

This condition can take a simple removal and turn it into an awful situation, so it's crucial to prevent it from happening as much as possible. 

Following surgical removal, a blood clot typically forms in the extraction area to protect the nerves and heal the site of the extraction. Formation of a blood clot is crucial for speedy healing, and if everything goes well, you should be fully healed in less than a month. 

However, certain things can dislodge the blood clot or prevent it from forming in the first place. For example, food particles or warm coffee can cause this issue and increase your risk for a dry socket. 

Dry socket is relatively easy to fix, but it's also very unpleasant when it develops. It's better to adhere to your care instructions in the first place until your mouth has appropriately healed before you venture back to your old habits, such as drinking coffee. 

Since a wisdom tooth is a permanent tooth, they aren’t meant to leave your mouth. This can make their removal a tough injury for your mouth to heal. 

So, what’s a coffee lover to do in this kind of situation? There are plenty of other options you can drink after surgery. 

What Can You Drink After Wisdom Surgery?

The best drink you can have after wisdom surgery is cold water. However, you can have other cold drinks like smoothies, juice, and sports drinks like Gatorade. You can also put certain additives into your water. 

You should drink water and ideally use a small cup. This will stop you from using suction that could cause other issues post-surgery. And as mentioned, water doesn’t have to be bland either. You could add some lemon juice or add some water enhancers. This will give your water a sweet, customizable flavor and encourage you to drink lots of it. 

You should avoid coffee, alcohol, tobacco, and other drinks. That means no vanilla latte and no cold brew. Even iced coffee should be avoided even though it’s cool, so no dice for coffee freaks. 

Tea can also be a good choice since tannic acids can help stop blood flow by constricting the blood vessels and encouraging more healing. You can use moistened tea bags instead of gauze if you want a natural alternative. 

In general, you should stay away from drinks that have a lot of citric acid in them, including orange juice and most sodas, like ginger ale. These can cause severe pain if they come in contact with an exposed nerve. 

Sugary drinks will also require you to brush your teeth more and could impact your healing. You need to take good care of your teeth after an operation like wisdom tooth removal. 

Food Post-Op

You can also have other cold food and have small meals during your recovery. 

Ice cream is a popular choice, especially for kids who want something to enjoy after what could be a traumatic experience. You shouldn't give your child popsicles after the surgery since the sucking motion can cause more issues. 

It's essential to break the food down and ensure that you don't have to chew much. Ideally, you'll stay away from solid food for a few days after the surgery and ease your way in. Hard food could cause you to chew too hard and potentially rip the stitches. 

Final Thoughts

It’s essential to take good care of yourself following a wisdom teeth removal procedure. You shouldn’t drink coffee or other sweet or citric substances because they could affect your healing. It's better to be on the safe side: avoid coffee for a while and enjoy a smooth recovery.

When can I start drinking hot coffee after wisdom tooth extraction?

Can you drink hot drinks after wisdom teeth removal?