Coffee can be really comforting, especially after a stressful wisdom tooth removal.
However, you don't want to do anything that's going to impact your recovery - and that may mean avoiding iced coffee and hot coffee drinks.
In this guide we'll explain whether you can drink coffee after wisdom tooth extraction, what the implications might be, and the precautions you can take to help relieve the pain and get your beautiful smile back.
Why Can't I Drink Hot Coffee After A Tooth Extraction?
After a tooth extraction procedure, a blood clot forms over the hole of your gums.
While it may seem unnatural, the blood clot is necessary to protect the opening from bacteria and help with the healing process.
When you have hot coffee after the wisdom tooth surgery, the hot beverage can prevent this blood clot from forming or dislodge the newly formed blood clot.
If this happens, it may lead to a condition called dry socket, which can cause severe pain and an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Don't drink hot coffee right after the procedure and a few days after it to reduce the risk of developing a dry socket.
However, if you already did and developed a dry socket condition, inform your dentist right away. They know how to treat a dry socket, so you won’t have to experience more pain.
Besides preventing dry socket, staying away from hot coffee or other hot beverages can aid the healing process after wisdom teeth removal.
Your nerve endings are vulnerable, especially when they're exposed.
In addition, the heat from the beverage can cause pain in your nerve endings, which can cause more hassle and disrupt your daily routine.
Lastly, according to a study by International Wound Journal, caffeine, which is known to have antioxidant properties, blocks keratinocyte proliferation and migration.[1]
This means that it has an inhibitory effect on wound healing. Therefore, if you drink caffeine after your surgery, the healing process will be delayed.
Can I Have Iced Coffee After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
After the wisdom tooth removal, your dentist will usually recommend you drink only water and eat soft foods in the next few days.
Unfortunately, drinking iced coffee after wisdom tooth extraction is not advisable.
If you drink iced coffee then the caffeine can also disrupt the process of healing and may give you complications.
However, some say that having a room temperature cup of joe is okay, but it is best to consult with your doctor if you want to drink cold coffee.
You can drink cold drinks, but you should avoid iced coffee, cold coffee, and cold brew coffee straight after a wisdom tooth extraction.
Instead of coffee, drink plenty of water for quick recovery. If you recover quickly, you can go back to your regular caffeine intake and won’t have to worry about cutting down your coffee.
Remember, your body must get lots of rest to support your healing after your wisdom teeth are removed.
Caffeine usually gives you a boost of energy, and you may not want that if you need to rest. That’s why it’s best to stay away from coffee after tooth extraction.
How Long After Teeth Removal Can I Drink Coffee Safely?
If you're not experiencing any complications and the healing process is going well, then you won’t have to wait for long before you drink coffee.
However, you should wait for at least five days to have an iced coffee after wisdom teeth removal.
You should also avoid having hot coffee after wisdom teeth removal for the same time period.
However, don’t start drinking coffee as you would typically do after your wisdom teeth are removed. Instead, take it slow and make sure that the drink won’t affect the healing process.
In the next couple of weeks, the swelling around your gums and wisdom teeth should go down, and your mouth should completely heal.
Once healed, you can go back to your usual diet—no need to restrict yourself from consuming any food or drinks.
This means you can drink iced coffee, iced tea, cold brew, and hot coffee. It also means you can stop just eating soft foods.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your dentists because they can address your concern right away.
If you’d like to speed up the healing process so you can drink coffee safely and go back to your regular routine, you can try these tips:
What Can Happen If I Drink Coffee Too Early After Tooth Extractions?
If you decide to drink iced coffee, drink cold coffee, or drink hot coffee after your dental procedure, you should be aware of the complications that may affect the healing process.
Below are some of the things that will happen if you drink coffee too early after tooth extractions:
1. Possible Bleeding After Extraction
Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee compounds called theobromine and xanthine that can harm your open wound.[2]
Caffeine can also cause your blood vessels to enlarge, which can increase bleeding after extraction.
Some bleeding is normal after tooth extraction and should stop within a day after the surgery. However, if it still bleeds days after the procedure, you should contact your dentist right away.
2. Possible Increase In Your Blood Pressure
If you suffer from high blood pressure, caffeine can worsen it. This is because caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which decreases the size of blood vessels, raising your blood pressure.
Drinking coffee means consuming caffeine.[3]
When caffeine increases your blood pressure, it can cause heavy bleeding to your wound. You may find it difficult to stop the bleeding. If this happens, immediately call your dentist.
3. Causes Acid In Your Stomach
Some coffee has high acid content, which can cause acid to form in your stomach.
After your tooth extraction, you're most likely to only eat small amounts of soft food within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Drinking coffee will add extra unnecessary acids to your stomach, which can cause you to experience heartburn, vomiting, and nausea.
Frequently Asked Teeth Removal And Coffee Questions
What can I drink safely after teeth removal?
While you should avoid drinking coffee, there are other beverages that you can safely drink, such as water, smoothies, and milk.
Water can keep you hydrated and flush out any particles from the wound, while smoothies and milk can give you the nutrients you need, especially if you are on a soft diet.
Is it bad to drink coffee after going to the dentist for a yearly check-up?
Drinking coffee after your yearly check-up isn’t necessarily bad. However, you may want to avoid consuming coffee right away since it can stain your newly cleaned teeth.
What are some other tips to promote healing after tooth extraction?
To promote healing, make sure you only eat soft food in the first 24 hours, avoid drinking through a straw, no spitting, don’t drink any hot beverages, including coffee, and make sure to rinse your mouth with warm water only.
Can I drink decaf coffee after tooth extraction?
Decaf coffee still has a little bit of caffeine in it. Caffeine can harm your wound, so it is best to stay away from any type of coffee after your tooth is extracted.
Conclusion
Drinking coffee after tooth extraction may harm your wound. That’s why it is best to wait before you consume coffee so you can avoid dry sockets and other complications.
Remember, the longer you wait, the lower your risk of experiencing excessive bleeding and dislodging the blood clot.
It is generally recommended to wait for five days after your procedure before drinking any hot beverages, but it is best to always consult with your dentist before making any drastic changes.
Lastly, if you think there is something wrong with the extraction area, call your dentist right away so the issue will be addressed properly.
References:
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25041108/
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/xanthine
3. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijvm/2010/834060/
