Oral Surgery & Coffee Drinking: It’s Not Just a Timing Issue
If you’ve recently received oral surgery, you might be eager to start enjoying your morning coffee again. But the answer to how long you have to wait might not be what you’re expecting. Consuming coffee right after oral surgery isn’t just an issue of timing, but also the temperature of your chosen beverage.
Coffee and Oral Surgery: An Indirect Relation
People have been drinking coffee for centuries, and with each passing year, its popularity continues to rise. But while your morning brew can help you feel energized, it’s important to be aware of its relationship with oral surgery. Even though there isn’t a direct correlation between the two, understanding the risks and safety measures is key for those who have received oral surgery.
Making the Right Choice
It’s recommended that you wait a few days after oral surgery before reseuming the consumption of caffeinated beverages. That means holding off for about three days post-surgery and then drinking coffee only at lukewarm temperatures. That’s because caffeinated beverages – and beverages in general – that are extremely hot can disrupt the healing process and put you at greater risk for additional pain and even infection.
Dr. Jonathan Burden, an oral surgeon based in Massachusetts, has first-hand experience working with individuals after they’ve undergone oral surgery. He advises that although different types and levels of oral surgery require various amounts of healing time, “no matter the procedure, the risk of hindered healing in the mouth is increased when patients consume hot beverages, which is why we especially discourage coffee during recovery.”
When Timing to Drink Coffee Matters Less
You might be wondering what to do if you really need a caffeine boost during recovery and can’t wait to get your coffee fix. That’s when the lower the temperature of your coffee, the better. To avoid unnecessary pain and risk of infection, a cold-brew coffee or an iced latte is your safest bet.
A cold brew can take anywhere from 3 to 24 hours to make, but there are certain coffee makers, filters and pitchers specifically designed for cold-brewing coffee and reducing the preparation time. If iced coffee is more your style, you can mix caffeinated cold brew into chilled milk or a milk substitute and add ice.
The Role of At-Home Oral Care
After receiving oral surgery, ensuring proper oral hygiene is a priority. Brigit Raichura, a registered dentist in California, emphasizes that, besides the healing process, oral hygiene habits and oral care products used post-surgery are significant factors to consider.
Raichura suggests that after oral surgery, you should “wait until the anesthetic wears off before performing any type of oral care yourself. Once you no longer feel numbness in your mouth and on your lips, you can perform oral care using a soft toothbrush and a natural mouthwash with anti-inflammatory properties.” Dr. Raichura also advocates for avoiding coffee, soda, and acidic juices until all the sutures are completely healed, and any other type of hot beverages should be consumed at lukewarm temperatures.
The Link Between Post-Surgery Swelling and Coffee Consumption
Swelling is common after any type of oral surgery, so a decrease in swelling should be expected once your mouth has healed. But when it comes to coffee, the opposite is possible.
Christina Bennett, a dental hygienist at Dental Care of South Jersey, warns that one of the negative side effects of drinking coffee too soon after oral surgery is increased swelling due to the caffeine content. Therefore, it is best to wait at least three days after oral surgery before reintroducing coffee into your diet.
How Caffeine Might Play a Role in Oral Health
While the research is still inconclusive, there is some evidence that suggests that regular, moderate consumption of caffeinated beverages can help with improving oral health, gum health and tooth decay over time. In fact, recent studies have found that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Despite its potential benefits for oral health, it’s still recommended to avoid coffee soon after an oral surgery until the area has fully healed. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your morning brew – just wait until you’re completely healed and can do so with peace of mind.
Finding Aspirin Alternatives
Aspirin should also be avoided when recovering from oral surgery because it affects platelet counts and increases the risk of bleeding and delayed healing. If you’re looking for a non-aspirin alternative, caffeine can still help in that department as well.
It has been scientifically approved that an intake of moderate caffeine – between 250 to 300mg a day – can be as effective in relieving headaches and muscle pain as a dose of aspirin. Plus, it’s crucial to remember that when it comes to coffee, you should drink no more than 8 ounces of it a day.
Enjoying Coffee Without Worry the Right Way
Drinking coffee is something many of us look forward to each day. For those who recently received oral surgery, the situation can be a bit more complicated – but only if you fail to take the necessary precautions.
Once you’ve waited a few days and are comfortable with the sensations in your mouth, it’s best to be cautious and enjoy your coffee only when it’s at a lukewarm temperature. You can also opt for cold brew or an iced latte – whatever suits your tastes.
The Benefits of Reducing Caffeine Intake After Oral Surgery
As with any other type of surgery or medical procedure, oral surgery requires extra attention and care during the healing period. Recent studies have linked excessive coffee consumption with problems such as tooth wear and cavities, but reducing the amount of coffee you’re drinking post-surgery can also help with the overall healing process, as well as reduce inflammation and discomfort.
It’s important to pay attention to the type of coffee and how it’s brewed, as some methods are better for oral health than others. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research recommends avoiding highly caffeinated drinks and drinks with lots of sugar and cream and choosing brewed coffee instead.
Pain Relief Through Caffeine and Painkillers
Although aspirin or other painkillers are not recommended post-surgery, there is some evidence to suggest that moderate consumption of caffeinated beverages can provide pain relief without the need to take medication. A 2014 study showed that pain tolerance was higher in those who had consumed caffeine an hour before the experiment was conducted.
But that doesn’t mean we should dismiss other means of pain relief altogether. As with anything else, moderation is key – the same goes for caffeine. Those who have undergone oral surgery should be aware of the recommended dosage of caffeine post-surgery and limit their intake to just one cup of coffee per day.
Understanding the Periodontal Health Connection
Coffee is known for its potential to help with circulation and in turn, can lead to a decrease in risk for diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke. But when it comes to periodontal health, the research is inconclusive.
While no study has found evidence that drinking coffee can lead to gum disease, a small number of studies have found that those who drink more than four cups of it daily can be at risk for periodontitis. Since this is a more advanced form of gum disease, it’s not recommended (or necessary) to consume as much coffee as researchers suggest.
Listen to Your Body
When it comes to drinking coffee after oral surgery, it’s important to remember that the recommendation is to wait a few days post-surgery and start off with small doses of coffee. That doesn’t mean you’re only limited to coffee either – it all depends on your preferences and dietary restrictions.
It’s also important to remember to listen to your body and heed all advice given by the oral surgeon or dentist. If any pain arises after a coffee-drinking session, it’s best to be on the safe side and stop coffee consumption until the surgery has fully healed.
