Can I Drink Soda/Pop After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Can I Drink Soda/Pop After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Is drinking soda after wisdom teeth removal a good idea? That’s a question oral surgeons are often asked as patients prepare for their extraction procedures. Fact is, most will tell you that soda is terrible for your teeth whenever you drink it. However, whether it more of a hazard after you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed is the matter at hand, and the answer to that isn’t quite as clearcut. While many people will tell you they drank soda after wisdom teeth surgery without issue, it may cause problems under some circumstances, so avoiding it for at least a few days may be wise.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth removal is a surgical procedure, although it is, in most cases, a minor one. Complications aren’t an issue for the vast majority of patients, but as with any surgery, they can happen. Among the most common are dry socket, which happens when the blood clot that aids healing is disturbed, and infection, both painful conditions that can delay healing. Knowing how to take good care of the extraction sites and yourself after surgery is important to ensure that you recover well, without such complications.

Avoiding irritation of the surgical sites is important if reducing your risk of complications is your goal. For at least three to five days, you’ll want to avoid acidic foods and drinks that can irritate those open wounds in your mouth, making them more prone to infection. Acid foods and beverages may also cause pain when they come into direct contact with extraction sites – rather like the feeling you get when tomato sauce gets into a canker sore. Sodas, especially colas, are very acidic, so they probably aren’t your best choice during this period.

Drinking Pop After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Some dentists warn against carbonated beverages during those first few days after surgery, especially in patients who have a history of dry socket after extractions. The concern is that the fizzing and bubbling action of these drinks may help loosen those protective blood clots from the sockets prematurely.

Sugary foods and drinks can also cause trouble right after wisdom teeth removal, since the pain and swelling typical of those first few days can make doing a thorough job of brushing and flossing a challenge. Soda, of course, is loaded with sugar, so avoiding it until you can clean your teeth safely and comfortably may be your best bet.

While there is some concern that pop may increase risk of complications in some patients, staying well-hydrated during your recovery is essential to proper healing. While water or mild, non-acidic juices are better choices, if you’re a daily soda drinker who simply can’t bring yourself to drink anything else, soda is much better than nothing. Just don’t, under any circumstances, drink it through a straw, since the suction it causes is a major risk for the development of dry socket, and do take care to rinse your mouth as directed by your oral surgeon each and every time you drink it.