Tooth extraction is a common dental procedure. A tooth may need to be extracted if it is damaged beyond repair, such as a severely decayed or broken tooth. While tooth extraction is a minimally invasive procedure, there still may be some inflammation and discomfort in the area after the tooth is removed.
If you’ve recently had a tooth extracted, you may be wondering when you can drink hot liquids again. When you’re used to having a cup of coffee or tea every day, it can be difficult to go without it. Here’s an idea of how long you should wait after a tooth extraction before drinking hot beverages.
How Long To Avoid Hot Beverages
It would be in your best interest to wait at least 24-48 hours after your tooth extraction procedure before drinking anything hot. This also applies to hot food. Whatever you eat after your procedure should be allowed to cool almost to room temperature before eating.
Why Should I Avoid Hot Food and Drinks
The reason for avoiding heat is that the gum tissue is likely inflamed and possibly a bit sore after being forcibly disconnected from the tooth. You may even have a stitch or two holding the gum tissue closed to prevent bleeding. Eating or drinking anything hot could irritate the already inflamed tissue and slow down the healing process.
Many soothing drinks and comfort foods are served hot, which is why this warning is necessary. Tea, soup, warmed milk, and other common foods eaten during recovery should all be avoided for the first few days.
What Should I Eat and Drink After Tooth Extraction?
There are many ways to have your favorite foods and beverages cold. Iced coffee and tea instead of hot may be a workable solution. Just be sure to avoid drinking from a straw for at least a week following tooth extraction, as the sucking motion can cause a condition called dry socket. Cold soup such as gazpacho is an alternative to hot soup.
Cold, soft foods such as yogurt, smoothies, pudding, jello, cottage cheese, and other similar items work well to reduce swelling and inflammation. Once you’ve had more time to heal, you can try more solid foods that are still on the softer side, such as pasta, eggs, cheese, cooked vegetables, and soft fruits.
When Can I Eat and Drink Normally Again?
Most people experience adequate tissue healing in about two weeks. By this time you should be able to eat and drink as you did before your procedure for the most part. You may still need to avoid particularly hard or crunchy foods in the area where your tooth was extracted.
What Should I Do if I Still Have Discomfort After Two Weeks?
If you’re still feeling discomfort in the area of the extraction after two weeks, contact your dentist. This may be a sign of postoperative infection. If you develop a fever at any point following your extraction, contact your dentist as fever is a telltale sign of infection.
Why Choose Hamden Dental Arts For Your Tooth Extraction?
Tooth extraction is a relatively simple procedure in most cases. Hamden Dental Arts uses advanced technology to make tooth extraction quick and comfortable. We use a minimally invasive approach to accelerate your recovery so that you can eat and drink normally again as soon as possible.
Call 203-248-7400 or contact us today to learn more and schedule an appointment.