What to Eat After Tooth Extraction?
One of the most important steps in recovering from tooth extraction is ensuring that you eat the right foods, such as soft and cold foods.
Eating the wrong kinds of food can potentially delay your recovery time or cause further pain and discomfort. Let’s take a closer look at what you should eat after tooth extraction.
What to Eat After Tooth Extraction
Soft Foods
One of the best types of food to consume after a tooth extraction is soft food. These foods require very little chewing and will not irritate the area where the surgery occurred.
Soft foods include items such as:
- Soup (Allow to cool close to room temperature)
- Mashed potatoes
- Yogurt
- Smoothies
- Applesauce
- Scrambled eggs
- Pudding
- Oatmeal
- Cottage cheese.
Cold Foods
Another type of food which can help promote healing is cold food.
Cold foods help reduce swelling and discomfort associated with teeth extraction.
Additionally, cold foods can help to numb the area, so it may be easier to eat than other types of food, which can cause irritation.
Cold foods include items such as:
- Ice cream
- Sherbet
- Popsicles
Nutritional Supplements
Taking nutritional supplements such as protein powder or vitamins may also be beneficial to help ensure that your body has necessary nutrients for healing and recovery.
Protein powder mixed with a liquid like milk or juice makes an easy meal replacement while providing much-needed nourishment during this period when normal eating habits are disrupted due to discomfort caused by surgery sites in your mouth.
Vitamins may also be taken orally, but crushed tablets mixed with applesauce may be an option if you have difficulty swallowing them due to tenderness at surgery sites.
Hydration Is Key
Staying hydrated is important. It’s recommended to drink plenty of water throughout the day and avoid sugary drinks such as soda or juice that can increase inflammation in your mouth area and delay your healing time even further.
Foods to Avoid After Tooth Extraction
To help promote a successful recovery, here are some foods that should be avoided after tooth extraction.
Fibrous Foods
It is best to avoid fibrous foods like corn, celery, and popcorn. These types of food can get lodged in the gum line and irritate the area, leading to swelling and discomfort.
Hot Beverages & Spicy Foods
Hot beverages such as coffee or tea can burn the sensitive gum tissue around your extraction site. Additionally, spicy foods should be avoided as they contain ingredients that could further irritate the area and hinder recovery.
Hard Foods
After your procedure, the most important food item to avoid is anything hard or crunchy, like chips or nuts. Chewing on hard foods can create too much pressure on the gums, causing irritation and pain.
Sticky Sweets
Sticky candies or sugary snacks should also be avoided after removing a tooth because they can stick to the gums, causing annoyance and discomfort.
Instead of reaching for sweets, eating soft fruit such as bananas or grapes is a better way to satisfy your sweet tooth without irritating the gum line.
Proper Eating After Tooth Extraction
Eating properly after having teeth extracted can go a long way toward helping you recover faster and more comfortably.
At South Ancaster Family Dental, we know that having a tooth extracted can be intimidating. You might wonder what you can and cannot eat after the procedure—the good news is that there are many delicious options available to you!
While avoiding hard or crunchy foods after your extraction is important, plenty of soft food items can satisfy your hunger. If you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to help!