What Can I Eat After A Tooth Extraction?
Tooth extractions can be painful, and it’s important to realize how to care for your extraction site afterward to promote healing. Knowing what to eat and what not to eat is a good place to start.
As with any dental procedure, stick to soft foods and liquids to avoid irritating the extraction site. Soft, easy-to-eat foods should be consumed for the first 24 hours after your procedure. After 24 hours, you can ease into a more normal diet when you feel comfortable.
It’s important to try to stick with easy-to-chew foods for the first few days. Some examples include:
- Yogurt
- Pudding
- Jell-O
- Ice cream
- Applesauce
After the first day, you can try a wider variety of foods:
- Mashed potatoes
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Oatmeal
- Pancakes
- Broth-based soups
What Not To Eat
After a tooth extraction, your body needs time to heal. You should avoid consuming alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours following the surgery. If you are taking any powerful pain medications, you should avoid consuming alcohol until you are no longer on the medications.
For about a week, it is advised to avoid eating hard, chewy, crunchy, or brittle foods. These could include chips, nuts, and popcorn.
How To Eat
How you eat your food is equally as important as the types of foods you consume after an extraction. You should try to only chew on the opposite side of your mouth from the treated area. Since you’ll likely be consuming more liquids than solids following the procedure, it might be tempting to use a drinking straw. This is not advisable because the straw’s suction could dislodge the blood clot, prolonging your overall healing time.
Having a tooth extracted is a common procedure many people undergo in their lifetimes. Knowing how to care for your extraction site can speed up recovery. If you have any questions about tooth extractions, please contact any of our offices.