By A good question that often most coffee lovers with recent or planned wisdom tooth removal ask is: “How long will it take for me to have the first cup of coffee after this?” The question, more or less, involves your coffee craving and a general concern for your health and healing. This article is meant to give you a total scenario of whether drinking coffee after your wisdom teeth removal is medically safe and advisable.
Post Procedure Concerns and Healing Process
The healing process follows a precise pattern following a tooth extraction. At first, the body makes a patch to cover the extraction site and keep it from getting infected. This blood clot is very important because it protects the nerves and bone below. The gums will then start to heal, which will close the wound over time.
Within these general guidelines, avoiding strenuous exercise, consuming a soft diet, and avoiding drugs or alcohol is great. Maintaining good oral hygiene also becomes important; however, you should avoid spitting or rinsing too forcefully as this could prolong or even stop the healing process.
It is very important to follow what your doctor tells you to do precisely after surgery. The aim of these instructions is for the body to heal naturally and reduce the possibilities of complications. Your body’s natural ability to regenerate tissue guides the steps of healing. Good care speeds up this process so you can have a happy and problem-free result.
Can I Drink Coffee After Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Most dentists and expert oral surgeons instruct patients not to drink coffee after the surgical removal of wisdom teeth. No particular amount of time is provided as a guideline, but most agree that most people are okay to do this again at least 48 to 72 hours after surgery. Some doctors add that you don’t want to do this until you’re off prescription painkillers and the wounds from surgery have started healing.
Key Challenges & Potential Risks
If coffee is your morning pick-me-up, you’ll have to skip it while your mouth recovers. During your healing, coffee can cause a number of problems, such as:
Dry Socket
With a dry socket, hot drinks can break up a blood clot formed at the extraction site. If the clot is lost too soon, it can cause a dry socket, which is very painful. Your nerves and bone beneath the skin may be revealed, which can be very painful.
Slow Healing Process
Caffeine can make you bleed at the extraction site, which slows down the healing process. So make sure you only take those actions which do not disturb the natural process.
Burns
It can take a few hours for numbing drugs or sedatives to wear off. If your mouth isn’t feeling well, hot foods and drinks can easily burn it. Because it still has caffeine, cold coffee isn’t any better.
Painful Bleeding
After surgery, your nerve ends are more likely to get hurt. Tooth pain can happen due to heat. If you drink caffeine, your blood pressure will go up and thus slow down the healing. This can cause bleeding at the extraction site.
It might be hard to skip your morning coffee, but you should wait at least 3 days before making a pot. It’s best not to drink it for two weeks after getting a tooth pulled.
Impact Of Caffeine on the Healing Process
Healing properly after having a tooth pulled is very important, and one important part of this is making a blood clot at the extraction spot. During this delicate healing phase, drinking coffee, especially hot coffee, right after surgery can be dangerous.
Coffee’s warmth and small acidity can speed up blood flow and possibly break up a blood clot that is building, which can cause a painful condition called dry socket. This situation slows down healing and also cause more problems, so it’s better to think carefully about eating and drinking after surgery.
When Is It Safe To Drink Coffee/Tea?
Many people who have their teeth extracted want to know when they may safely drink their favorite coffee again. Time is very important to avoid problems like dry sockets, which are painful and can slow down healing. Mostly dentists used to say you should wait at least 48 hours before consuming hot food or drink.
Coffee at room temperature is usually pretty bad too, and the way it affects the body may even slow down the healing process. Coffee raises blood pressure and narrows blood vessels, which makes it harder for blood to move at that particular area. For the first one to three days after the treatment, this might slow down the healing process, so it’s usually best to stay away from coffee for those three days.
Substitutes for Coffee
Be careful to drink lots of water following your surgery to keep yourself hydrated. You can also eat shakes and soup. If you want to drink tea, pick one that doesn’t have caffeine in it and wait until it’s perfectly cool before taking a sip. Some alternatives for coffee are:
- Herbal teas, such as peppermint or chamomile, are soothing but not irritating.
- Lukewarm water with just honey and a squeeze of lemon can make you feel much better.
- Clear soups and broths are able to keep you warm while giving you the nutrients you need without being in the way of your health.
Drinking & Eating Tips for Smooth Recovery
Food choices are very important for your recovery. You need to take care of a lot more things if you want your rehabilitation to go well. You need to:
- Avoid anything that can stop you from healing.
- Stay away from smoke, alcohol, and strong discharge.
- Wait 24 hours before using a straw.
- Thoroughly rinse with warm salty water after 24 hours.
- Use ice or a cold cloth to reduce swelling.
- Regularly brush and floss, but don’t touch the area where the extractions were made.
- Always follow your doctor’s instructions when taking medicine.
Craving That Coffee? Patience Will Pay Off!
You crave coffee after tooth removal. We get it! But you need to be patient for a quick recovery. Unfortunately, drinking coffee too soon after surgery can slow down the healing process and cause more problems. Let your body heal for a few days before you treat yourself. Afterward, your mouth will be grateful!
