After tooth extraction, you must be careful about what you eat and drink. Soft foods are best for the first several days, avoiding crunchy, chewy, spicy, or hard foods. Your tooth extraction site will likely be tender and sore after the procedure, and you will want to avoid eating or drinking anything that causes discomfort or impedes healing.
Why Do Teeth Need Extraction?
- Impacted wisdom teeth or those causing other problems in the mouth
- Excessive decay that a dentist cannot repair with a filling or crown
- Breakage or oral trauma
- Orthodontic preparation
- Tooth crowding
- Severe gum disease
The Tooth Extraction Procedure
First, your dentist will thoroughly examine the tooth and surrounding areas. The dentist will use digital X-rays to examine the underlying bone and check the damage. They will let you know whether they recommend extraction.
To extract the tooth, the dentist first numbs the area with local anesthetics. The dentist gently loosens the tooth with special instruments and removes it from the socket.
If the tooth is impacted, severely decayed, or has broken off at or below the gum line, the dentist may need to make an incision in your gum to remove it.
After removing the tooth, the dentist cleans and disinfects the socket. They may need to use stitches to close the surgical area.
Foods to Eat After Tooth Extraction
Do not eat anything for at least one hour after extraction. Your gums and the surgical site will be tender for several days. You can gradually add regular food to your diet as your extraction site heals, but stay with soft foods that need no chewing for the first few days. These foods include:
- Ice cream
- Milkshakes
- Lukewarm soups
- Soft scrambled eggs
- Well cooked pasta
- Jell-o
- Yogurt with no fruit or mix-ins
- Pudding
After two to three days, you can add more texture to your food, but go slowly. You can also eat warmer foods. Start with:
- Soft bread
- Yogurt with fruit
- Noodles
- Pasta
- Eggs
- Mashed potatoes
- Tender chicken and ground beef
- Cheese
Avoid These Foods and Beverages Altogether
- Steak and chewy meats
- Chewy, sticky, or hard candy
- Crunchy foods
- Spicy foods
- Alcohol
Take Additional Caution
Avoid overly hot or cold foods. Do not drink with a straw for the first few days, as you may dislodge a blood clot and experience a painful dry socket.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tooth Extraction
Why should impacted teeth be extracted?
Impacted teeth can push their neighbors, causing crowding and alignment problems. They can damage other teeth, and they can also cause pain and infection.
How long do I have to wait after a tooth extraction before I can eat a normal diet?
Most people can eat normally after approximately 7 to 10 days, but don’t rush your return to normal foods. Treat your surgery site carefully and understand that if you eat certain foods too soon, you could experience discomfort and prolong the healing process. If you have an impacted tooth or stitches, recovering will take longer.
Contact Maine Dentistry
If you experience tooth trouble and believe you need an extraction, please contact one of our convenient offices today. We can gently extract your tooth and help you heal smoothly.