Are you a coffee-lover who has a tooth extraction coming up?
When your dentist removes your damaged tooth, there are certain precautions that you have to take to ensure a safe and quick recovery. Tooth extraction aftercare also includes your diet, what you eat, and what you should avoid while the empty socket heals. So, if you’re wondering, “Can I have coffee after tooth extraction?” We may have some bad news. Coffee lovers, you may have to temporarily refrain from drinking your favorite beverage, at least for the first few days after the procedure.
In this blog, we will mention why you should avoid coffee after tooth extraction and other necessary aftercare instructions. Carry on reading to add to your knowledge!
Tooth Extraction Aftercare: What to Eat & Avoid
Your oral surgeon will instruct you on what to eat and what to avoid during the healing period after extraction. Diet is an essential part of tooth removal aftercare since it ensures no complications occur. Soft foods will be your best friend after the tooth removal procedure, which includes boiled eggs, mashed potatoes, smoothies, soup, Jell-O, and other healthy meals. On the other hand, hard, crunchy, acidic, sugary, and spicy food items are discouraged.
Is it Okay to Drink Coffee After Tooth Extraction?
Your mouth undergoes major trauma when a tooth is pulled, which means the open wound would require time and extra attention to recover. Moreover, the blood clot has to form after the procedure, which is necessary to kickstart healing after tooth extraction. Drinking coffee, however, can disturb the formation of a healthy blood clot or prevent it from forming in the first place. Consequently, a complication occurs due to the lack of blood clots, known as a ‘dry socket.’
Although dry socket is treatable, it results in excruciating pain, bad breath, and more. In addition, complications such as dry sockets can cause a delay in the overall healing time.
So, to answer the question, you cannot drink coffee after tooth extraction. After a few days have gone by and your mouth has properly healed, you can continue drinking coffee. However, make sure that the extraction site heals day after day and consult your dentist as well.
But why is coffee not safe to drink after tooth extraction? Generally, there are two primary reasons this happens:
- Temperature: People usually prefer having their coffee while it is hot, which is harmful to blood clots. Not only does the high temperature disturb the blood clot, but it also irritates the exposed nerve ending at the extraction site. Hence, try to avoid coffee and other hot beverages during the recovery period.
- Caffeine: The main ingredient, caffeine, is a primary reason why you cannot drink coffee after tooth extraction. When you drink coffee, caffeine can dilate your blood vessels, which increases blood flow as well as blood pressure. As a result, the blood clot might become dislodged or dissolved due to bleeding.
When Can I Drink Coffee After Tooth Extraction
Generally, dental specialists recommend waiting 5 days after tooth extraction to resume drinking coffee. Some patients, however, should wait a few weeks to drink coffee — especially if they had a surgical extraction. Your oral surgeon can tell when it is safe to drink coffee based on your condition.
Other than this, when you start drinking coffee again, make sure to do it gradually. In case you notice bleeding or tenderness after drinking coffee, stop right away and consult your dentist.
What’s Next?
You may have coffee five days following the tooth extraction procedure to ensure no complications occur. The hot temperature and caffeine in coffee may make the extraction site vulnerable to irritation and dry sockets.
Porter Smiles Dental cares for your dental health, which is why we offer safe procedures to keep tooth troubles at bay. Give us a ring at 281 519 7200 or visit our team at 21693 FM 1314 Ste 700, Porter, TX 77365.