DRINKING ALCOHOL AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION 🍷🚫
Just had a tooth removed? 🦷 Before you raise a glass, think twice! Drinking alcohol too soon after a tooth extraction can slow healing, cause infection, and lead to painful complications like dry socket 😣. Discover how long you should wait before having a drink and what to do instead for a smooth recovery. 💧✨
When you undergo a tooth extraction, your body sets about healing the extraction site by forming a blood clot in the socket. That clot is crucial: it serves as a protective barrier over bone and nerve endings and allows tissue to regenerate properly. The article highlights that it’s especially in those first few days after extraction that the healing process is most vulnerable. Consuming alcohol too soon after the procedure undermines several key aspects of that healing process. Alcohol dehydrates and reduces the body’s ability to regenerate tissues, delaying wound healing. It also makes the blood thinner, interfering with clot formation and thereby increasing the risk of a complication called a “dry socket.” A dry socket occurs when the protective clot dissolves or is dislodged, leaving the bone and nerves exposed — it’s painful and prolongs recovery. On top of that, drinking may interfere with pain-medication or antibiotic effectiveness, as well as increase infection risk by irritating gum tissues and weakening local immune responses.
So how long should you hold off on alcohol? While individual healing rates vary by extraction complexity and health status, the article recommends a minimum wait of 48 to 72 hours, and for more involved procedures such as wisdom-teeth removal, a full week or until confirmed healed by your dentist.
In the meantime, safe drink alternatives include water (to stay hydrated), milk (for gentle nutrients), smoothies (without using a straw), cooled herbal teas, and warm soft broths or soups—all supporting healing without the risks tied to alcohol. Following your dentist’s after-care instructions, avoiding smoking or straws, eating soft foods, and resting also contribute strongly to a smooth recovery.
In short: while it might be tempting to celebrate after a dental procedure, waiting to drink alcohol is a small sacrifice to help ensure your mouth heals without complications. If you’ve just had a tooth extracted, prioritizing hydration, rest, and proper care will pay off in a quicker, more comfortable recovery.
Read more on our latest blog post 👉 https://www.dentalnetwork.ca/blog/dental-care/drinking-alcohol-after-tooth-extraction/