Many of us love our caffeine fix first thing in the morning. Whether it's black coffee, a vanilla latte, or your standard iced skinny hazelnut macchiato, extra shot, light ice, and no whip. But you may have to push pause on your order for a few days after getting your tooth pulled. While it's a very common and simple dental procedure, you'll need to properly care for yourself and follow your dentist's instructions to heal. So, should you drink coffee after a tooth extraction? The answer is no, you should not. You should help your mouth on its way to a quick recovery so you can quickly return to your favourite coffee spot.
Can I Drink Coffee After A Tooth Extraction?
How to Reduce the Risk of Complications
When you hear the term "blood clot", it will probably not conjure up any pleasant thoughts. But blood clots are necessary and help the healing after tooth extraction. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, when a blood clot doesn't develop before your wound heals as it should, a dry socket occurs. This can lead to considerable pain, discomfort, and a bad taste in your mouth. Drinking coffee increases the risk of a dry socket. That's why it would be best to turn off the coffee maker for a few days.
What to Eat and Drink After Tooth Removal
What your body consumes post-procedure influences the effectiveness and length of your recovery. Following your dentist's recommendation is vital. The University of Utah has created instructions for your entire week following the extraction. It features recommendations, tips, and what to expect, like plenty of water and a small meal upon arriving home. Soft and bland foods (eggs, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, etc.) are always smart. It's also wise to continue to hydrate over the next few days, but not with hot beverages like coffee.
When Is It Safe to Drink Coffee?
Assuming your healing and recovery process is going swimmingly, you'll want to wait at least 5 days to reintroduce coffee back into your diet, says the University of Utah. Do it slowly and in small amounts. Within 2 weeks, your swelling should be minimal, and your coffee intake can return to normal levels. Contact your dentist if you have any questions or if anything feels off.
How to Promote Healing
Diet is a key element in your healing. There are many other things you should do to make your recovery as smooth as possible. In particular:
- Be smart and stay away from anything that could prevent healing
- Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and vigorous rinsing
- Don't drink through a straw for 24 hours
- Gently rinse with warm salt water after 24 hours
- Apply a cold cloth or an ice bag to relieve swelling
- Brush and floss regularly, but avoid the extraction area
- Take any medications (if prescribed) as directed.
Now you know if and when you should drink coffee after tooth extraction. The key is allowing and helping your mouth to heal so you can drink coffee again. It just requires a little patience — and then you can return to your regular caramel latte, 3-pump, skim milk, lite water, no foam, extra-hot drinking habits.
