What To Eat After Tooth Extraction
From wisdom tooth extraction to the removal of a broken tooth that is beyond saving, knowing what to eat after tooth extraction can be confusing. It is important to avoid anything that can disrupt the healing process or cause pain and discomfort. For the first few days, you need to skip foods that are spicy, acidic or require excessive chewing. Instead, choose soft foods that aren’t too hot or cold. Read on to learn about what to include and omit in your diet, both immediately after extraction and beyond. Skip to:
- The Tooth Extraction Process
- Immediately After Extraction
- The First 48 Hours
- The Following Days
- Next Steps
The Tooth Extraction Process
First, the area of extraction is injected with a numbing local anaesthetic. Your dentist will then widen the socket (where the roots of your tooth sit) before loosening the tooth and pulling it out. While the extraction should not hurt, you may experience pressure or hear some unpleasant sounds. Alert your dentist immediately if you do feel pain. After removal, your dentist will instruct you to bite down on a clean gauze to stop any bleeding. Do not swallow the gauze.
Immediately After Extraction
Do not eat or drink at all while still numb from the anaesthetic, as you may accidentally bite your cheek or lip or even scald yourself. So, how long after tooth extraction can I eat then? We would recommend at least three hours. After that, it is recommended to eat soft foods that are not overly hot or cold. Remember to chew on the side of the mouth that hasn’t been treated.
The First 48 Hours
A common question is, when can I eat normally after tooth extraction? At this point, it is likely that the extraction area still feels quite sore and tender. Choose food that requires no (or minimal) chewing, while avoiding spicy, crunchy, sticky and acidic foods. Do not smoke either as this increases the possibility of gaining a painful condition also known as dry socket.
What to eat after extracting a tooth:
- Luke-warm soup
- Smoothies (without a straw to avoid pressure on your gums)
- Scrambled eggs
- Yoghurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Apple sauce
- Tofu
- Well-cooked pasta
- Water
What not to eat after extracting a tooth:
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Raw vegetables
- Chewing gum
- Fizzy beverages
- Alcohol
- Rice
- Seeds
- Quinoa
The Following Days
What can I eat after tooth extraction in the following days? Keep maintaining a soft, well-balanced diet for at least a week. You should now have the ability to consume hot foods and, if you are looking for more variety in your food, try mashing or puréeing hard vegetables and fruits.
Next Steps
So, do you need to replace a missing tooth? When there are gaps within your mouth, there is an enhanced risk of tooth migration, where the neighbouring teeth move into the new space created. Additionally, tooth loss may lead to malnutrition. This is as a result of patients not being able to chew as efficiently and digest the nutrients acquired in the chewing process. You also cannot have aligners, veneers or braces if you have a missing tooth. If you are looking to fill the gap, there are many treatments to choose from. The first is a dental implant. This process includes surgically inserting titanium implant into your jawbone, before placing a porcelain crown on top. The implant fuses with your jawbone while your mouth heals, add a porcelain crown, and you’re creating a bright, natural-looking smile in its wake. If you’ve had a row of teeth removed, another option is a dental implant bridge. A single tooth implant can hold a bridge containing 2 or more adjacent teeth. Alternatively, multiple implants can support a bridge containing 3 or more. This is ideal for individuals who have undergone multiple extractions in the same area. Consult with your dentist to find the best treatment for you.
Conclusion:
During your healing process, especially the first 48 hours, be mindful of what you are eating. Consider how gentle these foods are on your teeth and jaw and whether they pose a risk to disrupting a blood clot or becoming dislodged from your gum (something which can then lead to infection). Considering filling the space post-tooth extraction? Learn about dental implants.