When it comes to wisdom teeth removal, there are a lot of questions that people have about the process. One common question is can you drink alcohol after wisdom teeth removal? It is recommended that you don’t drink alcohol for at least a few days after surgery. Even afterwards alcohol doesn’t provide many benefits for promoting healing and may slightly slow down the healing process. In this article, we will discuss why you shouldn’t drink alcohol after surgery, common myths about drinking alcohol after wisdom teeth removal, and what to do to promote quick recovery after wisdom teeth removal.
The Importance of Nutrition After Wisdom Teeth Removal
After having surgery, it is important to maintain a healthy diet in order to promote healing. This means getting enough protein, vitamins, and minerals as well as staying hydrated. Additionally, it is important to get enough sleep and reduce stress levels. All of these things are important for helping the body to heal properly and quickly. Drinking alcohol, especially in excess, can interfere with all of these things:
Drinking Alcohol Will Dehydrate You
While alcohol is a liquid, it actually can contribute to dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it causes your body to lose more fluids than it takes in. This can lead to dehydration, which can then delay healing. This means that those who drink alcohol should make sure to drink even more water than usual in order to stay hydrated.
Drinking Alcohol is Empty Calories
Nutrition-wise, alcohol is also empty calories. This means that it doesn’t provide your body with any essential nutrients. It can also interfere with the breaking down and absorption of important nutrients which further slows down the healing process.
Drinking Alcohol Interferes with Sleep
Sleep is another important factor in healing. When you sleep, your body releases growth hormone, which helps repair tissue damage. Because of this, it’s important to get a good amount of sleep the nights directly after your surgery. Alcohol can interfere with sleep, which can then delay healing.
Drinking Alcohol Makes You Do Dangerous Activities
The key to recovery after wisdom teeth removal is listening to your body’s own cues. Drinking alcohol can interfere with your ability to do so and this increase the risk of you accidentally injuring the area. This includes an increased risk of developing a dry socket. This occurs when the blood clot that forms in the socket after surgery is dislodged, exposing the bone and nerves, and is extremely painful.
So When Can I Drink Alcohol After Wisdom Teeth Extraction?
It is recommended that you don’t drink alcohol until a few days to a week after surgery. However, if you are still taking prescription painkillers or antibiotics a week after surgery please ask your dentist to make sure they do not interact with alcohol before you drink.
If you’re thinking of drinking alcohol try to drink in moderation and listen to your body’s own cues. If you are in pain when drinking, stop, reassess, and try a different approach. In the days after surgery, bleeding is not uncommon and is typically not seen as a cue to stop unless it increases more than normal.
A good example of trusting your body is when wisdom teeth removal patients try eating steak. Steak is an extremely chewy and tough food and is likely to cause pain to the injury site. If you are feeling pain when trying to eat steak, it is best to listen to your body and put off eating that particular food until you have healed more.
Truths/Myths About Drinking Alcohol After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Should I Worry About the Acidity of Alcohol?
There have been some studies that have shown how an acidic environment can decrease the time for blood clotting to occur. Since alcohol can be particularly acidic, some patients have worried that drinking alcohol after their surgery can interfere with the clotting process.
However, the amount of time that alcohol is actually present in your mouth is very short, and there haven’t been meaningful studies specifically into the acidity of alcohol’s effects on wisdom teeth removal patients. Therefore, this is generally not the main concern regarding drinking alcohol.
Will Alcohol Interfere with Pain Killers?
Some patients have been worried that alcohol will interfere with your liver’s ability to break down painkillers and possibly lead to an overdose. While technically possible, it is usually safe to drink a moderate amount of alcohol if you are taking painkillers that are bought over the counter. This includes drugs like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).
However, if you are taking a prescription painkiller, i.e. something given to you by a doctor, it is generally not recommended to drink alcohol. This is because drinking alcohol could increase their side effects such as drowsiness. This includes the prescription painkillers tramadol or codeine. If you are taking prescription painkillers please check with your dentist or doctor before drinking alcohol.
Can Alcohol Interfere with Antibiotics?
Yes, it is possible for alcohol to interfere with the efficacy of some antibiotics such as Metronidazole and Linezolid. When taken together this can cause flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, increased blood pressure, and rapid heart rate. Therefore, if you are taking antibiotics, it is best to check with your dentist or doctor before drinking alcohol to make sure that it is safe.
Stressing the Importance of Check-Up with a Dentist After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Regardless of if you drink alcohol, it is important to have a follow-up appointment with your dentist after having your wisdom teeth removed.
Your dentist will check the area around your extraction sites to make sure that they are healing properly. They will also check to see if any food has gotten caught in the extraction area. If you see anything stuck in your stitches, avoid picking at it and instead bring it up with your dentist during your next appointment.
Haphazardly picking at the area can cause a dry socket, which is when the blood clot that forms in the extraction area is dislodged. A dry socket is extremely painful and can lead to further complications.
Disclaimer
The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be substituted for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this website constitutes the practice of medicine, law or any other regulated profession.
No two mouths are the same, and each oral situation is unique. As such, it isn’t possible to give comprehensive advice or diagnose oral conditions based on articles alone. The best way to ensure you’re getting the best dental care possible is to visit a dentist in person for an examination and consultation.
SAVE TIME AND MONEY AT ANY DENTIST
Less dental work is healthier for you. Learn what you can do to minimize the cost of dental procedures and avoid the dentist altogether!
English