Drinking After Removing Wisdom Teeth

The common age range for removing wisdom teeth is usually early 20s, but each case is different and ultimately depends on the condition of one’s teeth. Whatever the case may be, if people have wisdom teeth removed, it’s important for them to avoid letting usual habits affect their recovery. During most celebrations, people may be tempted to have a drink, but they must keep in mind the effect alcohol can have on extractions.

During the first few days after extraction, it’s normal to experience swelling and pain. This could be enough to keep people from celebrating and leave only rest and relaxation in the week ahead. However, if you're someone who recovers quickly, be very cautious of getting back into your normal routine too quickly. Drinking after getting wisdom teeth removed may seem harmless or even helpful, but it could make matters worse.

After oral surgery, the most common complications are infection, nerve damage, jaw stiffness, and dry sockets. After an extraction, a blood clot forms to seal the wounded area and help it heal. When the blood clot breaks or is dislodged, it exposes the bone and nerve. The first few days after the extraction are the riskiest regarding dry sockets. When dry sockets occur, they can be very painful, and they need to be brought to your dentist’s attention immediately.

To treat dry sockets, dentists may rinse out the socket and apply a medicated dressing to the area. This should help to further protect the wound and decrease any nerve pain patients might experience. Dentists may also prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection along with a painkiller to help with discomfort. If patients are still taking pain medication, mixing that with alcohol could cause a bigger issue.

Prescriptions for pain medication should have a warning on the bottle to encourage caution. They should also list the side effects and possible harmful interactions. Some medications can lead to nausea, headaches, vomiting, drowsiness, fainting, or even loss of coordination when a prescription is mixed with alcoholic beverages. This interaction can also affect vital organs and leave patients at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, or shortness of breath. Medication can be made less effective by drinking alcohol, and it can further complicate your condition.

Some medicine may make patients sleepy, drowsy, or lightheaded, and drinking only intensifies these effects. Even small amounts of alcohol can make it harder to concentrate or perform certain tasks while in your system. This can make patients more susceptible to injury and leave them too impaired to drive. So, rather than drink alcohol to provide temporary relief, patients should instead focus on having a quick recovery.

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