Tooth extractions are an important part of maintaining a healthy smile for a lot of reasons, from not having enough room in the mouth to accommodate all of your teeth to experiencing severe decay or trauma that has rendered a tooth unrepairable. Following your procedure, it’s important to follow your oral surgeon’s aftercare instructions to make a complication-free recovery. One instruction that many patients tend to forget is whether or not they can drink alcohol after a tooth extraction. Read on to learn more about how to take care of your smile and when you can start drinking alcohol again following your procedure.
Why Would You Need a Tooth Extraction?
Countless people need to have teeth removed for a variety of reasons. In fact, the goal of tooth extractions is to improve the health of your smile. Some of the reasons in which your dentist may refer you for a tooth extraction include:
- A tooth has been cracked or broken beyond repair.
- A cavity has eroded away a large portion of your tooth, rendering it untreatable.
- A tooth that has previously been treated with a root canal has become reinfected.
- There’s not enough room in your mouth to successfully undergo orthodontic treatment.
- There’s not enough room in your mouth to allow wisdom teeth to grow in without increasing your chances of other oral health problems.
Although it may seem like a big decision to move forward with a tooth extraction because the results are permanent, know that your dentist and oral surgeon will always prioritize the long-term health of your smile when recommending treatments to you!
Can You Drink Alcohol After Getting a Tooth Extracted?
Following your tooth extraction, your oral surgeon will provide you with a list of aftercare instructions, one of which will be to avoid consuming alcoholic beverages for seven to 10 days following your procedure. After your tooth is removed, a clot must form in the socket to facilitate the healing of the tissue. Whenever the clot is dislodged, it causes a condition known as dry socket, which slows the recovery process and can be painful.
The reason why it’s important to not drink alcohol following your tooth extraction is because it can delay the formation of the blood clot, cause additional bleeding due to blood thinning, and increase your risk of developing dry socket.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Tooth Extraction?
It typically takes about two weeks to completely recover from a tooth extraction, but you’ll only need to avoid drinking alcohol for the seven to 10 days following your procedure. This is because the tissue at the extraction site will already begin its healing process by this period. Staying hydrated with water, continuing to practice good oral hygiene, and avoiding drinking from a straw are all good ways to make a quick and problem-free recovery.
About the Practice
At South Florida Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, our team is comprised of five highly skilled and knowledgeable oral surgeons. Each are board-certified, meaning they have completed rigorous examination to demonstrate their mastery of oral and maxillofacial surgery. To schedule a consultation and learn whether you require a tooth extraction, visit our website or call 561-203-5744.