Can I Drink Tea After Wisdom Teeth Removal? (The Surprising Truth)

We all know that tea is healthy.

Most of the time.

There are also instances where tea can do more harm than good.

Is tooth extraction one of those instances?

Can I drink tea after wisdom teeth removal, or should I wait until the wound has healed a bit?

If that is the case, how long do I need to wait?

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about drinking tea (or coffee or other hot beverages) immediately after having your wisdom teeth removed.

 

Can I Drink Tea After Wisdom Tooth Removal?

You should not drink hot tea immediately after wisdom tooth removal. Dentists advise avoiding hot beverages like tea or coffee for at least 2 to 3 days post wisdom tooth extraction. Cold tea is fine, if it’s a cup or two.

The heat from any hot beverage could irritate the tender socket and impede the healing process. Moreover, the caffeine in tea could also dehydrate your body and cause the socket to dry up. This could slow down the healing.

It is better to drink cool or cold beverages, like ice water, to numb the pain and decrease swelling. Cold tea is fine, too. Let’s take a closer look at the reasons to avoid hot tea after you have had your wisdom teeth removed.

 

Reasons Not To Drink Tea After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Here are the main reasons you should not drink hot tea, and especially sweet tea, after having your wisdom teeth removed.

 

Increased Sensitivity, Irritation, And Pain

When you have your wisdom teeth removed, the sockets left behind at the extraction site are tender and raw. Hot tea or coffee can increase this sensitivity and cause irritation, burning, and pain.

To avoid increasing this discomfort, it is best to not drink hot tea or coffee for at least 24 to 48 hours post wisdom tooth removal. Remember: every patient heals differently. Some may even require up to 5 days before they can enjoy their hot tea or coffee after wisdom teeth removal.

 

Could Slow Down The Healing Process

Another reason it is important to avoid drinking tea post wisdom tooth extraction is that the caffeine and tannins in the tea tend to constrict the blood vessels and limit the blood flow to the site.

While this helps stop the bleeding and discharge in the socket, it could also interfere with the natural healing process and may even slow it down.

To ensure that the gums heal naturally, it is best to avoid consuming tea completely for at least 2 to 3 days until the site heals.

 

Dehydration

Almost all teas – black, oolong, and green teas – contain some amount of caffeine. Caffeine is a known diuretic. Diuretics expel water from the body and result in dehydration. This can cause the socket to dry. A dry socket can invite bacteria and may result in abscesses or pus.

Dentists recommend drinking plenty of water post-surgical extraction to keep the socket moist. This is essential for the healing process. This is also why you should avoid all kinds of dehydrating foods and beverages after wisdom tooth removal.

 

What Drinks Are Okay Post Wisdom Tooth Removal?

Doctors recommend drinking cool or cold beverages after having your wisdom teeth removed. These include:

 

Water

Water is the best beverage to drink after wisdom tooth removal. Cool water with a few ice cubes hydrates you and also keeps the socket from drying. Moreover, water can maintain the clot in the socket which is essential for the healing process.

You can add a few ice cubes to the water and sip on it all day. Avoid using a straw (or any form of suction) to sip the water , since that can disturb the clot that is forming in the socket.

 

Sugar-free Juices And Smoothies

You can also drink homemade vegetable or fruit juices or smoothies. These nourish your body with vitamins and minerals which, in turn, could speed up the healing process.

Choose low-acid, low-sugar fruits and vegetables to make your juices or smoothies. Add plenty of water to the concentrated juices and sip on them slowly. Again, do not use a straw to drink these beverages.

 

Cold Milk

Cold milk is a good choice of beverage after a tooth extraction surgery. It can numb the pain and also provide you with calcium and vitamin D which are needed for healthy teeth. Do not drink hot milk, since that can irritate the raw tissues and may even impact the healing process.

 

Sports Drinks

You can also go for cold, decaffeinated, sugar-free sports drinks after wisdom tooth removal to replenish the lost electrolytes. Sip on the drinks slowly and do not use a straw.

 

Can Tea Help Wisdom Teeth Recovery?

Some oral surgeons recommend certain teas to speed up the healing post wisdom teeth removal. These teas complement the healing properties already present in our saliva and also help soothe the gums.

Many of these teas have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which can benefit patients who have recently had their wisdom teeth removed.

A word of caution before consuming these teas. Wait for at least 24 to 48 hours before consuming these teas. Do not drink these teas hot, because the heat could irritate the sensitive socket and disturb the clotting process.

 

What Kind of Tea Is Best After Tooth Extraction?

Try ay of the following teas to help with the healing process.

• Chamomile tea: You can drink cool or warm chamomile tea post-dental surgery. Its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties can speed up the healing process. You can even brew the tea bag and place the warm bag in the socket to bring down the swelling and reduce pain.
• Peppermint tea: Cool peppermint tea is another great beverage choice after the removal of wisdom teeth. The menthol in peppermint tea can help numb pain and inflammation.
• Licorice tea: This herbal tea also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help with pain and also speed up healing.
• Green tea: Green tea contains antioxidants that fight oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and also help with healing.

You could also try putting a tea bag on the tooth extraction site. This is known to help with pain and can fight infection. Any of the teas above, plus black tea, work well for this.

 

Can I Drink Milk Tea After Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

It is advisable to wait at least 24 to 48 hours after the tooth extraction before drinking hot milk tea with sugar. You want to ensure that the socket forms a clot and starts healing.

Drinking hot and sugary beverages, such as milk tea or chai latte, could impede the healing process, dehydrate the socket, and also irritate the tender, raw tissues.

By waiting for at least 24 to 48 hours, you can make sure that the socket is healed enough and the hot liquid won’t increase the pain and irritation.

Always remember: each patient heals differently. While most patients can start drinking milk tea within a couple of days after the extraction, some may require almost 5 days before they can enjoy milk tea without any pain.

As mentioned before, please do not use a straw to drink any beverage. Also, test the temperature of the tea before drinking it, to ensure it isn’t too hot. Heat can irritate the tender socket. If in doubt, please consult your dentist to check if you can drink milk tea.

 

Drinking Tea After Tooth Extraction: Final Thoughts

Drinking tea after getting your wisdom teeth pulled is a bad idea. At least hot tea is. You should not have any hot drinks, because the heat can impede the healing process. The caffeine and tannins in tea can cause problems as well.

That said, drinking cold tea should not be a problem, as long as you keep it to a cup or two. Cold drinks are good for the healing process and the caffeine content is not high enough to cause dehydration unless you drink a ton of tea.

Cold brew tea is a great option. Learn how to make cold brew tea the right way here.