Final answer:
Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes to take an oral temperature after consuming food, drinks, or smoking to ensure an accurate reading. Alcohol metabolism by the liver also affects this timing, taking five hours for sobriety from legal intoxication.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing how long you should wait to take an oral temperature after drinking, eating, or smoking, it is recommended to wait at least 20 to 30 minutes. This guideline ensures that any temporary hot or cold influence from food, drink, or smoke does not affect the accuracy of the temperature reading.
Since the liver must metabolize alcohol to avoid toxicity, and considering that it takes at least five hours for a legally intoxicated person to achieve sobriety, it is important to also consider this factor when alcohol has been consumed.