If you've recently had a tooth removed, you're probably curious to know when you can resume your normal routines — so one of the questions that comes up most frequently is this one: how long after tooth extraction can I use a straw?
It may not seem like much. A small drink of juice or water through a straw won’t seem like that much to you. However, when it comes to the process of recovery after a tooth extraction, the smallest actions can make all the difference. Sipping through a straw too soon can cause painful complications that will hinder your recovery process.
Mitä tapahtuu hampaan poiston jälkeen?
As soon as the tooth is removed, your body begins to heal immediately. A small clot fills the hole where the tooth was. This clot is crucial to your healing. It covers the area, prevents bleeding, and supports the growth of new tissue. [1]
Imagine it like it is a natural bandage that covers the nerves and bones beneath so that these don't become exposed. If this clot remains stationary, the area heals normally with time. However, if this clot is disturbed, the recovery process is delayed, and discomfort can begin.
Why You Shouldn’t Use a Straw After Tooth Extraction
Once a tooth is extracted, your body creates a clot at the extraction site. This clot functions like an invisible shield, protecting the bone and nerves that lie under it while your gum tissue heals. A dislodged or improperly formed clot causes what is known as a dry socket — one of the most painful, frustrating complications after tooth extraction. [2]
The sucking action using a straw causes suction within the mouth, and that suction can dislodge the clot very easily. It’s not the straw itself — it’s the sucking action. Even the act of tilting the head to take an occasional sip can produce enough negative pressure to dislodge the clot, particularly the first few days that it remains soft.
Dentists warn patients time after time regarding this risk. Indeed, one of the primary post-extraction guidelines is to abstain from using straws, alongside not smoking or not spitting heavily. [3]
So, How Long After Tooth Extraction Can I Use a Straw?
You should avoid using a straw for at least 7 days after a tooth extraction.
Others indicate at least 3–5 days, but most dentists advise waiting at least one week. It may seem excessive, but the fact remains that each person heals at a different rate. With some, the clot sets quickly in two days' time. With others, it stays at risk for seven days or more.
If you've had surgery to remove one (such as an impacted wisdom tooth), it is all the more necessary to wait several days longer. In such situations, your dentist can recommend not using straws for 10 to 14 days, based on the nature of the surgery and the way your body recovers.
The fact is that everybody heals differently. Some heal quicker, others heal slower. That’s why the best advice you can ever get is that of your dentist personally. They will let you know when it’s safe based on your situation.
Steer clear of straws until then. Even the briefest sip can become a problem. Wait until your mouth has fully recovered before returning to your smoothies or iced coffee.
What Happens If You Use a Straw Too Soon?
Let us examine the possible effects in simple detail:
1. Dry Socket
This is the most common and painful result. When the clot is removed, you will be left with exposed bone and nerves where the socket was located. [4] You'll feel:
- Sharp, piercing pain
- Bad taste or odor in the mouth
- Pain that refers to the ear, eye, or neck
- Slowing up the process of healing
A dry socket is not only painful — it may involve further treatment, including pain management, medicated dressing, and multiple visits to the dentist.
2. Delayed Healing
Even though you may not get an outright dry socket, prematurely dislodging the clot can impede the process of healing. It could cause prolonged bleeding, swelling, or inflammation – all of which can be prevented with the proper care.
3. Increased Risk of Infection
If there is no clot to protect it, the bacteria can get into the wound, causing infection. Indications that you are becoming infected include ongoing pain, pus, bad odor, or fever. These can make what should be an uneventful recovery into an extended, stressful experience.
How to Drink Without a Straw After an Extraction
The desire to use one usually stems from convenience or habit. It is, however, perfectly possible — indeed, safe — to get along without one for several days.
- Drink straight from the cup — carefully and gradually. Lean forward slightly, so that the liquid does not spill.
- Use the small spoon for thick foods such as soups or smoothies.
- Stay hydrated — dehydration slows down the process of healing, so be sure to drink water frequently.
- Steer clear of fizzy or carbonated beverages for the initial few days. They can annoy the area and disrupt the clotting process.
If you've recently lost a tooth, now is the time to take it easy. Eating and drinking gently assist your body in doing what it needs to do — and keep complications at bay.
Can I Use a Straw If I Have Stitches After Tooth Extraction?
If you needed sutures or stitches, you'd naturally assume the area would be more protected — that this wouldn't be so risky to use a straw. That is not the case, however. It is generally not advised to use a straw after you've had one of your teeth extracted.
Stitches hold the gum tissue together and aid in the process of healing, but don't protect or stabilize the clot inside the socket itself. Sucking action can still dislodge the clot, and, depending upon the condition of the wound, the chance of this happening can be greater since the wound is deeper or more involved.
In all likelihood, using the straw with stitches can:
- Loosen the sutures
- Irritate the wound
- Causes bleeding or pain
- Protracted hospital stays
Your dentist likely gave you dissolvable sutures that will exit naturally after 7–10 days. Throughout that period, it is crucial to adhere strictly to post-op instructions, which never fail to include the omission of straws and sucking actions.
Extra Recovery Tips for a Smooth Healing Process
First Few Hours
- Don't eat anything or drink within 1-3 hours after the procedure.
- Then, chew soft foods, but chew on the opposite side of your mouth. [5]
- Do not touch the area with your tongue or your fingers.
- Avoid sucking anything (including straws) or forcefully spitting — this may dislodge the blood clot.
- Rest and take it easy. Don't lift, bend, or exercise.
What to Avoid
- No mouth rinsing for the first 24 hours. Sip water but don't swish or spit it out.
- Avoid alcohol or smoking at least 24 to 48 hours beforehand. Both can delay the process of healing or infect the area. [6]
- Avoid aspirin unless your doctor says otherwise — it can increase bleeding. Let your dentist know if you take it for a heart condition.
If Bleeding Starts Again
- Utilize the cotton wool roll supplied.
- Dampen it lightly, put it on the area, and bite into it firmly for 30 minutes.
- Stay still and remain calm.
- If the bleeding does not end, call your dentist. If it is too late and severe, attend your local A&E.
While You're Numb
- Be careful not to bite your cheek, lip, or tongue — it won't hurt immediately, but it will afterward.
- Steer clear of hot beverages until the numbness subsides.
Soreness and Pain Relief
- Mild pain is usual for one to two days.
- Take your regular pain medication — but not aspirin except under doctor's orders.
- If the pain is severe or becomes worse after several days, then you should talk with your dentist.
Cleaning Your Mouth
- Gently wash with warm salty water after 24 hours.
- Add 1 teaspoon of salt to warm water, using a whole glass.
- Repeat this 2 or 3 times daily for the next 3 days
Brushing Your Teeth
You can brush the remaining teeth, but handle the area, which is still healing, carefully. A soft, quiet toothbrush is best. A good option is the Oclean X Pro Elite Sonic Toothbrush.
This sonic toothbrush is quiet (less than 45dB) and comes with 4 modes of brushing and 32 different intensity levels. It has an incredible 84,000 strokes per minute and an intelligent screen that records your brush. The soft DuPont fibers are gentle enough for sensitive mouths, and the battery lasts up to 35 days. It is waterproof, too, so you can clean and use it daily with ease.
The Bottom Line: Put the Straw Aside
So, exactly how soon can you use a straw after tooth extraction?
Wait at least 7 days, possibly more, according to your procedure and your recovery process. Although it is inconvenient, that tiny sacrifice guards you from complications, pain, and delays. It is an act of patience that keeps your recovery smooth.
Even if you want to indulge in a milkshake or smoothie, you should stick to using a spoon afterward. After a few days, you can gradually resume straw drinking — but carefully.
Take the dentist's advice seriously and let your mouth heal completely. A bit of patience at this time can prevent much suffering later.
Viite
Udeabor, Samuel E., et al. “Current Knowledge on the Healing of the Extraction Socket: A Narrative Review.” Bioengineering, vol. 10, no. 10, 1 Oct. 2023, p. 1145, www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/10/1145#:~:text=4.-, https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10101145.
“Why Is It Necessary to Avoid Straws after Oral Surgery?” Stevebureauoms.com, 2016, www.stevebureauoms.com/blog/why-is-it-necessary-to-avoid-straws-after-oral-surgery/. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Frankini, Vincent. “Don’t Use Straws after Wisdom Teeth Removal | Dr. Streelman.” Mercer Island Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery |, 5 Apr. 2023, mioralsurgery.com/blog/why-cant-i-use-straws-after-having-my-wisdom-teeth-removed/. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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Goswami, Ahana . “A General Overview of Post Extraction Complications-Prevention, Management and Importance of Post Extraction Advices.” Fortuneonline.org, 2025, fortuneonline.org/articles/a-general-overview-of-post-extraction-complicationsprevention-management-and-importance-of-post-extraction-advices.html. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
“Tooth Extraction after Care.” Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, www.kentcht.nhs.uk/leaflet/tooth-extraction-after-care/.