When can you drink alcohol after wisdom teeth removal? Our dental team recommends avoiding any alcoholic beverages for at least 48 hours.
The removal of damaged teeth or the extraction of wisdom teeth is not unusual. You’ll only need a brief period of recovery, whatever the cause. You might want to open a bottle of wine or your preferred alcoholic beverage to pass the time or unwind after a long day, but your dentist will advise you to wait a few days.
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Can I Drink Alcohol After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Unfortunately, most dentists advise against drinking alcohol after a tooth extraction. After a tooth is extracted, a blood clot needs to form over the area to allow your mouth to heal properly. This procedure can take a week or so. You could develop a painful condition called dry socket if the blood cannot clot or if the clot is prematurely dislodged.
Dry socket not only hurts, but it also makes the nerves and bones close to the extraction site susceptible to bacterial infection, ultimately slowing down your healing process. In addition to experiencing pain that spreads through your mouth and even the rest of your face, you might end up needing to make more follow-up dental appointments.
Risks Of Alcohol After A Tooth Extraction
For granulation tissue to form after your tooth has been extracted by your dentist, a blood clot must form at the extraction site. Normally, this procedure takes a week. Dry socket, a painful condition that can make your recovery painful and slow, can result from the clot not forming or being dislodged too soon. By skipping your wine with dinner, you can avoid dry socket and other issues. Alcohol can increase the risk of infection while impeding your body’s normal healing process.
In order to give your tissue time to heal after your extraction, your dentist may advise abstaining from alcohol for at least 7 to 10 days. They will advise drinking lots of water in its place. You’ll drink enough water to help your body heal.
If you’re taking any prescription or over-the-counter painkillers, mixing them with alcohol may cause negative side effects. After stopping the use of some painkillers, you’ll need to wait a little longer before having a drink.
What Other Drinks To Avoid After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
The majority of the time, it is best to stay away from acidic beverages for at least one week, such as some sodas or other drinks that contain citric acid, as they can seriously irritate your mouth’s healing areas. Within 24 hours of surgery, drinking cold coffee is acceptable, but until at least 48 hours have passed since surgery, you shouldn’t drink hot coffee.
What Can I Drink After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Fortunately, you can still enjoy a variety of flavored beverages after having your wisdom teeth removed. For instance, milkshakes, apple juice, ginger ale, smoothies, Gatorade, and more are all acceptable drinks. Of course, water is also acceptable and, in any case, is probably the healthiest choice. Please don’t hesitate to contact our skilled dental team right away if you have any more queries or if you want to have your wisdom teeth removed. We are available to assist in any way we can.
Related Reading: What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Tips For A Smooth Recovery
In addition to refraining from drinking alcohol, here are some more post-op tips for a quick and easy recover after tooth extraction:
- For at least the first 72 hours, stay away from physically demanding activities.
- Lift your head slightly while lying on the floor.
- For a few hours, keep the gauze your dentist placed over the extraction site in place to promote the formation of a blood clot. Then, replace it as often as required.
- Follow the directions on all prescription drugs, including antibiotics and painkillers.
- Don’t spit or rinse too forcefully.
- To lessen swelling and discomfort, apply an ice pack to your cheek for ten minutes at a time.
- For the first 48 hours, refrain from using straws.
- For at least three days, abstain from using tobacco products.
It’s best to resist the urge to unwind with a bottle of beer or a glass of wine following your tooth extraction. Your mouth will be completely healed in no time if you follow the above-mentioned steps and the aftercare instructions that your dentist gives. After that, raise a glass in honor of your radiant smile!
Read Next: Can I Eat Bread After Tooth Extraction?
