If you're a fiend for caffeine who has just had a tooth pulled, you might be wondering, can I drink coffee after a tooth extraction?
Whether it’s a wisdom tooth, molar, or incisor that you’ve had removed, you'll want to make sure to follow your dentist's dos and don'ts after tooth extraction.
The quickest way to heal is to make sure that a blood clot forms over the site of the extraction, and that it stays there so you don’t develop dry socket. Although dry socket is a complication that can be treated by your dentist, it can be painful and should be avoided.
Many of your dentist’s instructions will include things like:
- No drinking through a straw for 24 hours
- No spitting
- Eating soft foods
- Making sure to rinse your mouth with warm water only
- Avoiding hot drinks, including coffee
Keep reading as we discuss why it’s important to avoid hot drinks after surgery and when you can enjoy another cup of coffee again.
Table of contents
Why can't I drink hot coffee after a tooth extraction?
To aid the healing process after your procedure, you don’t want to drink hot coffee or any hot beverages for that matter. That’s because your nerve endings are vulnerable. The heat from the coffee can cause pain in your nerve endings.
In addition to it being painful, having hot drinks after your tooth extraction can prevent the blood clot from forming over the site, or even dislodge the blood clot if it has already formed.
If you develop this complication, also known as dry socket, you'll need to call your dentist. Dry socket is something that your dentist can treat.
Can I drink cold coffee after a tooth extraction?
While it’s not a good idea to have cold coffee after your surgery, having a cup at room temperature would probably be okay, but to be sure, ask your dentist first.
Additionally, make sure that you don’t drink too much java in the first 24 hours after your procedure due to the caffeine intake. You want to take it slow.
It’s important that your body gets a lot of rest to help with your healing process. After all, you did just undergo surgery.
What can I drink after a tooth extraction?
After your tooth extraction, the best thing for you to drink is water. Not only will it be gentle on your mouth, but it will also hydrate you, helping you to heal quicker. Along with water, you’ll only want to eat a diet of soft foods, at least for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Because you will have a lot of swelling in your mouth, water and easy-to-eat foods will be the most comfortable things to consume. This will also help you avoid disrupting the blood clot that has already formed.
However, avoid drinking from a straw — using a straw could dislodge the blood clot.
When is it safe to drink coffee after an extraction?
You should avoid coffee drinks, as well as other hot beverages, for the first few days following your surgery. Most dentists advise you to drink only water and eat soft foods for a few days. In fact, drinking a lot of water and staying hydrated will help you have a speedy recovery.
If you experience no complications and your healing process is going well, then you can look forward to drinking coffee again soon. You should wait at least five days after your tooth has been pulled before having a cup.
It’s generally recommended that you take it slow at first, enjoying a sip or small amount at first to make sure you are healing properly.
In just a short couple of weeks, swelling should go down and your mouth should be on its way to complete healing. This means you can get back to eating food and drinking beverages as you were before your tooth extraction.
If you have any concerns or questions, be sure to contact your dentist.
Effects of drinking coffee after a tooth extraction
If you were to drink a cup of coffee right after your tooth extraction, it could cause complications in the healing process. Below are a few of the reasons why your dentist will advise avoiding coffee after your procedure:
- The caffeine can cause your blood vessels to enlarge, resulting in increased bleeding after extraction.
- Coffee can increase your blood pressure, which can cause you to bleed from the site in your mouth.
- Caffeine causes acid to form in your stomach. Because you will likely only eat small amounts of soft foods for the first 24 hours or 48 hours, having the extra acid in your stomach could cause you to experience nausea, vomiting, and heartburn.
Conclusion
To sum up, it’s well worth it to wait to have that cup of coffee after your tooth extraction so that you can avoid dry socket and other complications. The longer you can wait, the lower your risk of excessive bleeding and dislodging the blood clot.
While it’s generally recommended to wait at least five days until you drink hot beverages, you should consult your dentist about your specific surgery. And if you do think something is wrong with the extraction area, be sure to call the dentist immediately in case you need to go in for a visit.