ALCOHOL
Having a tooth extracted or an implant placed is an experience no one really looks forward to, especially during the summertime, when people are having barbecues, parties, and celebrations, all of which typically involve alcohol. A common question we get is how long one should wait to have an alcoholic beverage after having had oral surgery. It is recommended to wait at least 48 hours before resuming alcohol consumption. After surgery, especially for the first 24 hours, it is advised that you take this opportunity to relax and recover. If you’ve just had an extraction, especially of wisdom teeth, resting will help form blood clots, allowing the bleeding to stop and preventing dry sockets.
Additionally, you will more than likely be prescribed pain medications after your oral surgery treatment. This could be in the form of Norco, Percocet, Vicodin, Tylenol with Codeine or ibuprofen. Consuming beer, wine, or spirits while under the influence of pain medications can be very dangerous and can result in liver failure, impaired motor function, dizziness and overdose.
To avoid any problems during the recovery process, whether it be the surgery sites healing properly or your overall well-being, we strongly advise you to refrain from drinking alcohol after oral surgery and once you have finished using your pain medications.
COFFEE
Another beverage people ask about post-surgery is coffee – the beloved caffeine beverage many of us consume regularly to get through the week. Luckily for coffee lovers, you can have coffee after your surgery, but we advise you to stick with cold brew for the first 24 hours. We recommend waiting at least 48 hours before consuming it at a hot temperature, but it all depends on how you’re feeling.
Why? As mentioned above, right after any oral surgery involving extractions, the treated site needs to clot. Having anything other than cool foods and beverages on the first day will irritate the area and prevent it from healing properly.
ACIDIC DRINKS
Having beverages high in citric acid, such as lemonade and orange juice, after oral surgery is like squirting lemon juice on an open wound on your hand – NOT FUN. The extraction and implant sites can be irritated and could lead to infection. Definitely avoid consuming these types of drinks for about a week.
SO WHAT CAN I DRINK?
You’re probably thinking that you can’t have anything to drink besides water and that oral surgery has taken all the fun out of your summer. Don’t fret! There are plenty of delicious beverage alternatives you can have during your recovery period. Just to name a few:
- Apple juice
- Sprite / 7-Up
- Ginger Ale
- Smoothies (without fruits that contain a lot of seeds, like strawberries and raspberries)
- Gatorade / Powerade
- Milk (for more flavor, add chocolate or strawberry syrup)
We recently started using Mio Liquid Water Enhancers in our office to add a little bit of flavor to our water (Crystal Light and Dasani also have a similar product), and we love it! You can find them at the grocery store in the beverage section (and no, we are not sponsored by them – we’re just fans of the product).
