What to Eat After a Tooth Extraction: Post-Procedure Diet Tips

Millions of people undergo a tooth extraction procedure every year to treat issues with their wisdom teeth or severely damaged teeth. Research shows that in the US alone, approximately 80% of patients undergo tooth extraction by the age of 25. 

The success of this routine procedure relies heavily on proper aftercare. Your diet especially plays a major role in terms of the healing and comfort after this procedure.

The foods you eat after this surgery can either lead to a smooth recovery or cause unnecessary pain. This blog looks into what you can eat after a tooth extraction surgery to ensure quicker recovery. So, keep on reading to learn more.

• Post Tooth Extraction Surgery Diet: Why Does It Matter?
• What to Eat 24 Hours Following the Tooth Extraction
• What to Eat After 2-3 Days
• What to Eat After 4 Days to a Week
• What to Eat After 1-2 Weeks

Post Tooth Extraction Surgery Diet: Why Does It Matter?

After tooth extraction, your body starts to heal itself. It forms a blood clot in the socket from where the dentist extracts the tooth. This clot serves as a natural bandage that protects the bones and nerve endings.

Any damage to this clot can cause it to dislodge. This condition is called dry socket or alveolar osteitis. Research shows that about 0.5 to 5% of routine extractions result in dry socket due to improper aftercare.

Factors like mechanical irritation from chewing hard foods and thermal irritation from hot foods also affect the recovery time.

After a tooth extraction, your mouth stays tender and sore for some time. There are some open wounds in your gums during this time as well.

To protect these wounds from irritation, you need the right kind of diet. It helps minimize discomfort and prevent infections. This also promotes faster healing and eliminates the risks of dental health complications.

What to Eat 24 Hours Following the Tooth Extraction

This is a very crucial period after the surgery. Make sure to only eat soft foods that are gentle on your mouth in the first 24 hours. These foods should be non-chewy as well as lukewarm to prevent irritation.

You can focus on foods that also provide you with energy and essential nutrients to make sure you heal faster from your damaged teeth or wisdom teeth removal surgery.

Here are some healthy options you can consider.

• Smoothies
• Scrambled eggs
• Plain or Greek Yoghurt
• Ice cream
• Pudding
• Applesauce
• Smooth peanut butter
• Cottage cheese
• Milkshakes
• Blended Room-temperature soups like pumpkin, lentil, vegetable broth, etc.

What To Avoid

For the first few hours, it is better to avoid all kinds of foods. This gives your body the time to form a blood clot over the tooth extraction site.

Here are some foods that most experts from Specialist Dental Services recommend you need to avoid at all costs after this procedure.

• Extremely Hot or Cold foods
• Spicy food such as chillies, curry, or spicy wings
• Citrus fruits or fizzy drinks that contain acids
• Crunchy food such as corn chips, brittle, or apples
• Food with very small bits, for example, seeds and nuts
• Anything with Straws that can dislodge the clot 
• Crumbly food like cookies or biscuits
• Sticky food items like toffees or chewing gum
• Chewy Meats
• Alcohol

What to Eat After 2-3 Days

This is the time when you notice a decrease in your swelling. However, you are still not ready to resume the normal diet. You can slowly add solid, nourishing foods to your diet after 2-3 days. Just make sure to chew very slowly and use the opposite side of the mouth as much as possible.

The following are some foods that you can consider at this stage.

• Scrambled or soft-boiled eggs
• Oatmeal or cream of wheat
• Noodles
• Soft tofu
• Soft or steamed vegetables
• Mashed bananas or avocados
• Bread
• Pasta
• Salmon
• Cheese

What to Eat After 4 Days to a Week

You can expect a significant reduction in the pain by the end of the first week. Now you can take your diet one step further and add slightly chewy foods to it. It is still a better idea to stay away from foods with crumbs or seeds that can get stuck in the socket and cause infections.

During this time, you can go with the following options.

• Shredded chicken
• Rice
• Pasta
• Lentils and beans
• Soft pancakes
• Cheese and egg breakfast wrap
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• Cheese
• Banana
• Roasted butternut squash soup
• Roasted salmon and mashed potatoes
• Milkshake

What to Eat After 1-2 Weeks

You can start your near-normal diet within two weeks after the tooth extraction. It takes about 7 to 10 days for your gum to heal. The exact healing time depends on the number of teeth extracted and your oral hygiene.

Conclusion

It is medically essential that you opt for the right food after every tooth extraction procedure. You can go with soft foods that contain plenty of nutrients after this surgery. It not only protects the healing sockets but also lowers complication risks.

Smart food choices and proper oral care guarantee a much faster recovery after this procedure. The post-tooth extraction diet is key to your recovery process. And that is why you need to be extremely conscious of the foods you consume in this period. 

Visit us at Specialist Dental Services today to get the best tooth extraction and follow-up care services from experts in the field.

FAQs

Which food to eat after a tooth extraction?

Soft foods that are neither too hot nor too cold are best to eat after this procedure.

How long do you have to wait to eat normal food after a tooth extraction?

Experts say you should wait a week or two following the tooth extraction before starting with the normal diet.

Is it fine if you eat yoghurt after a tooth extraction?

Yogurt after a tooth extraction is a good choice since it is nutritious as well as easy to swallow.

How to clean your mouth after a tooth extraction procedure?

It is better to wait for 24 hours to rinse your mouth after the extraction. You can use a mild saltwater mouthwash to gently clean your mouth after the surgery.

What can I eat 24 hours after my tooth extraction, according to experts?

For the initial 24 hours, you can go with soft foods that are easy to swallow. Soups or mashed potatoes are a good place to start.