A cup of coffee is a staple of many people’s morning routines.
Whether brewing at home or at a local coffee shop, many of us can’t get enough of those freshly roasted beans.
From espresso shots and lattes to a refreshing iced cappuccino, there are many ways to enjoy coffee, but in the days following your tooth extraction, it’s best to avoid all of them.
Is Coffee Safe to Drink After a Tooth Extraction?
If you’re a coffee-lover, you may wonder if it’s okay to enjoy a latte or two while you’re healing from a tooth extraction.
The answer is no; drinking coffee after tooth extraction can slow down the healing process and increase the risk of a dry socket, which can be very painful.
You don’t want to end up with complications after your surgery, so it’s best to skip your morning coffee for at least a few days following your tooth extraction.
It can be hard to give up a favorite morning routine, but rest assured that it’s only temporary, and you’ll be back to enjoying a coffee before you know it.
While coffee is out of the question, there are still many foods and drinks that you can enjoy safely as your mouth heals.
Being careful about your diet is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of painful complications after your tooth extraction.
How Long After Tooth Extraction Can You Have Coffee?
You should wait at least five days post-extraction to start reintroducing coffee into your diet. The same rule applies to carbonated beverages.
Start slowly with small sips here and there until you’re sure your mouth feels better.
Once your swelling has gone down 1-2 weeks post-extraction, you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee without worry.
If you’re concerned about when you can start drinking coffee after a tooth extraction, you should contact your dentist or oral surgeon for guidance.
After all, the doctor always knows best.
What Can I Eat After Tooth Extraction?
You may not have much of an appetite after your tooth extraction, but in the days following the procedure, you’ll need to alter your diet.
Along with avoiding coffee and other hot liquids, you should stick to soft and bland foods after having a tooth extracted to avoid complications like dry sockets.
Why is a soft bland diet best? Because hard and crumbly foods like granola bars or sunflower seeds can get caught in the empty socket and cause irritation.
Spicy or heavily seasoned foods can also cause irritation and get in the way of the healing process.
While it may be hard to give up your favorite foods, doing so will help your mouth heal faster.
While ice cream is technically safe post-extraction, the cold sensation could be uncomfortable or painful in the first few days.
Listen to your body, and don’t push yourself to eat certain foods if they cause you pain.
A soft and bland diet doesn’t have to be as restrictive as it sounds. There are many foods that are tasty and safe to eat after your extraction.
Some easy and safe foods to eat after your extraction include:
- Applesauce
- Scrambled eggs
- Smoothies
- Mashed potatoes
- Oatmeal
- Yogurt
- Jello
- Pureed foods
It’s not exactly fun to live on a soft, bland diet, but worry not. You’ll be able to introduce solid foods back into your diet around one week after your procedure.
If you want to be extra cautious, you can wait two weeks, or until you’re officially cleared by your dentist or oral surgeon.
More Tips for Safe Healing After Your Extraction
Along with avoiding coffee, there are other measures you can take to help accelerate your healing process.
Above all, you should stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and try to eat as healthy as you can.
Here’s how you can make your post-extraction healing process as smooth as possible.
- Avoid smoking, using tobacco, and drinking alcohol
- Avoid vigorous exercise in the first 24 hours after your extraction
- Use ice packs to reduce swelling
- Don’t drink with a straw
- Rinse your mouth 24 hours after surgery
- Take extra care while brushing and flossing around the extraction area
- Take any prescribed pain medication as directed by your dentist or oral surgeon
With proper care and caution, complications like infections or dry sockets are rare.
If you experience a fever, severe pain, or bleeding after extraction, contact your dentist right away. These can be signs of an infection that will require antibiotics.
It’s also important to keep your wound clean while it’s healing. To do so, you can use an antiseptic mouthwash to prevent infection.
Rinsing with warm salt water can reduce swelling and help your gums feel better.
Tips to Avoid Dry Sockets
As you heal from your tooth extraction, look out for signs of dry socket.
This painful condition occurs when the blood clot in the extraction site is dislodged. This leaves the nerves under the gums exposed.
Dry socket can be caused by drinking hot liquids (like coffee), smoking, using a straw, or eating hard foods before your mouth has healed.
Dry socket can’t be treated at home, so you’ll need to contact your dentist for treatment. Signs of dry socket include:
- Severe pain in the days following your extraction
- Bad breath
- An unpleasant taste in your mouth
Treatment for dry socket can help reduce the pain and discomfort caused by the exposed nerves. You’ll likely need prescription medication for strong pain relief.
Your dentist may start by flushing out the socket with water to remove any leftover food debris that could cause infection. Then, they may use medicated gel or dressings on the wound.
Your exact treatment will depend on the severity of your dry socket symptoms.
Wrap Up
With the tips in this article, you can help your mouth heal after your tooth extraction.
By avoiding coffee, hard foods, and vices like smoking, you can lower your risk of severe complications. That may be a hard sell for coffee lovers, but it’s a healthy thing to do.
It may take a little while to heal after a tooth extraction, but you’ll be back to your morning routine in no time.
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