Drinking Alcohol After Wisdom Teeth Removal: Key Risks

Wisdom teeth often cause problems, like crowding or misalignment, which is why many people need to have them removed.

After wisdom teeth removal, how you care for the wound, follow your dentist’s instructions, and rest play a big role in your recovery.

Drinking alcohol after wisdom teeth removal isn’t just a bad idea—it’s something you should avoid completely while healing.

While alcohol might be enjoyable at times, it can slow down your recovery and cause complications.

Keep reading to learn why you should avoid drinking alcohol after wisdom teeth removal and what else to steer clear of during recovery.

Can You Drink Alcohol After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

You should avoid drinking alcohol immediately after wisdom teeth removal, even in other dental procedures (including dental crown procedure or teeth whitening)

Alcohol can slow down healing, raise the risk of complications like dry sockets.

During recovery, focus on drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and support faster healing. 

Be aware that mixing alcohol with pain medications—whether prescribed or over-the-counter—can be dangerous and cause harmful side effects.

It’s best to avoid alcohol for at least 24-48 hours, or longer if your dentist advises. 

For the safest recovery, wait about 7-10 days until the wound has healed. 

Risks of Keep Drink Alcohol After Wisdom Teeth Removal

After wisdom teeth removal, drinking alcohol can cause serious problems:

• The extraction sites are sensitive and prone to infection, and alcohol weakens your immune system, making it harder to fight off infections.
• It also creates an environment in your mouth that encourages harmful bacteria to grow, increasing the risk of infection.
• Alcohol can also raise the chance of dry socket, a painful condition where the blood clot at the extraction site is lost or dissolves too soon. This happens because alcohol slows healing and can irritate the area, disrupting the clot.
• Mixing alcohol with pain medications can make you overly drowsy or even cause breathing problems. 
• Alcohol also dehydrates you, which isn’t good for healing and can reduce blood flow to the area.
• Additionally, alcohol can cause blood vessels to expand, leading to more swelling and pain around the extraction sites. 
• It can also interfere with antibiotics, making them less effective and increasing the risk of infection.

To heal properly, it’s best to avoid alcohol completely after wisdom teeth removal.

Recommendations for Wisdom Teeth Removal Care

If you’ve just had your wisdom teeth removed, here are some tips to help you recover smoothly:

• Avoid alcohol (You already know it can slow healing and cause problems)
• Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist and support healing.
• Stick to their advice on diet, oral hygiene, and medications to reduce pain and speed up recovery.
• Keep an eye out for signs like more pain, swelling, or unusual discharge. If you notice anything concerning, contact your dentist right away.
• If you decide to have alcohol after the initial recovery, do it in moderation. Pay attention to how your body reacts, and consider waiting until you’re fully healed.

Other Food and Drink to Avoid After Wisdom Teeth Removal 

Recovering from wisdom teeth removal means sticking to a simple diet.

For the first 72 hours, avoid these foods and drinks:

• Alcohol
• Very hot or very cold foods and drinks
• Crunchy or crumbly foods.
• High-sugar foods
• Spicy foods
• Soda 
• Milk

These foods can irritate the extraction site, introduce bacteria, or dislodge the blood clot, slowing down healing. 

So, stick to soft foods to help the blood clot stabilize and the area heal.

And don't forget that for the first 24 hours, avoid brushing near the extraction site or spitting forcefully, as these actions can also disturb the blood clot.

In Summary

Drinking alcohol after wisdom teeth removal shouldn’t be part of your recovery plan.

It’s better to focus on a soft diet, staying hydrated, and resting for a few days.

After a couple of days to a week, you can have a drink if you feel ready.

If you have more questions about drinking alcohol after wisdom teeth removal or want to schedule a removal, contact us here.