Tooth extraction is a routine procedure in almost every dental office. In most cases, it goes smoothly and does not cause patients any significant discomfort. However, you will still need to take special care of the surgery site, including adjusting your diet to avoid disrupting the healing process. This requirement often leads patients to ask: what can I eat after a tooth extraction? In this article, we answer this question and give other extraction recovery tips.
What Can I Eat After a Tooth Extraction?
The reason for adjusting your diet in the first week after the tooth extraction is to reduce the strain put on the jaw bone by chewing food, avoid dislodging the blood clot formed in the socket (a necessary step of healing), and also prevent irritation of the surgery site. Adhering to a liquid and then to a soft diet in the first week after the surgery will help promote swift and side effects-free recovery.
Additionally, when planning your tooth extraction recovery diet, be sure to make it balanced and rich with vitamins and minerals. These nutrients will supply your body with energy, vitamins, and other elements needed for swift and successful regeneration.
Liquid Diet
Dentists recommend switching to a liquid diet in the first 24 to 48 hours after your tooth extraction. Examples of liquid diet foods include:
- Smoothies
- Broth or pureed soups
- Liquid yogurt
- Milkshakes or milk
Remember that when adhering to a liquid diet, you should not use a straw as the suction in the mouth can dislodge the blood clot in the socket. If the blood clot is dislodged or removed, a condition known as a dry socket occurs. If a dry socket develops, recovery will be slower and more uncomfortable.
Soft Diet
After the first 24 to 48 hours, you can switch to a soft diet for the next 3 to 4 days. In cases of complicated surgeries and more extended recovery periods, consider adhering to a soft diet for an entire week. Then, you can start gradually introducing foods you usually eat. Foods often included in a soft diet are:
- Pureed soups and vegetables
- Soft boiled vegetables
- Omelets
- Pate and soft cutlets
- Soft bread without seeds
- Cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt
Foods and Drinks to Avoid After Tooth Extraction
We recommend avoiding any foods and beverages that might disturb or irritate the surgery site in any way. The list includes:
- Very hot or very cold foods and drinks
- Spicy and acidic foods and drinks
- Crunchy foods, such as crackers, chips, nuts, etc.
- Hard foods that require force for biting and chewing, for example, apples
- Sticky foods, for example, caramel or toffee
- Alcoholic beverages, as alcohol slows down regeneration
Other Tooth Extraction Recovery Tips
Apart from choosing your diet carefully, there are several other tips you can follow to make tooth extraction recovery smooth and quick:
- Stay on top of your oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day and rinsing your mouth with saltwater solution after meals. That being said, be careful when brushing in the surgery area to avoid disturbing the gum tissue and the blood clot in the socket of the extracted tooth. Also, when rinsing your mouth, do not move the water around in your mouth with force; be gentle instead.
- Make sure to take the medication your doctor prescribes and follow the recommended doses and schedule.
- Manage pain with other-the-counter painkillers, such as Ibuprofen, but do not exceed the recommended daily dose.
- If you experience swelling on the surgery side of the face, use cold compresses and apply them to the outer side of the cheek. Hold a cold compress for 15 minutes with at least 30-minute breaks.
- If the swelling and pain do not go away in a couple of days or seem to intensify, make an appointment with your dentist for a check-up.
- Abstain from smoking, as it creates suction in the mouth that might dislodge the blood clot in the socket. Smoking also slows down regeneration and prolongs the recovery time.
- Avoid doing sports or participating in other strenuous activities in the first week after the procedure, as they increase the blood flow and might provoke bleeding. Make sure to take plenty of rest and sleep for at least 8 hours a night.
Make an Appointment Today
If you need a safe and stress-free tooth extraction, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced dentist today. In our office, we create a friendly environment to provide our patients with the best experience. We look forward to your visit to the TrueGlo Calabasas dental office.
