Is it possible to bite or chew on something after going through a tooth extraction from your dentist? You sure can, but that doesn’t mean you can put anything in your mouth just yet. Let’s look at the answer to that question more closely in the succeeding paragraphs.

Explaining a Tooth Extraction

This is a painless procedure, where a tooth or tooth roots are removed from the mouth with minimal damage to the surrounding tissues. Using a process like this ensures that the socket will heal without complications.

A dentist often provides patients with an instructional care sheet after a tooth is taken out. There should be no complications once the tooth is out as long as patients follow these instructions. Furthermore, obeying these instructions will minimize the risk of an infection in the socket or dry socket afterward.

What You Can and Can’t Eat

Since there might be a few gaps in your pearly whites depending on how many teeth your dentist pulled out, there are foods you’re allowed to eat and some you should avoid for the next couple of days.

Don’t Avoid

• Mashed Potatoes: After losing a tooth, mashed potatoes make a great food option. They’re soft and rich in nutrients that could help with recovery.

Plus, potatoes are a hearty root vegetable, so they’ll fill you up quickly. Do eat them at room temperature, not too hot, so you don’t irritate the area where the dentist pulled your tooth.

• Scrambled Eggs or an Omelet: Scrambled eggs are the best food to eat after tooth extraction. A decent diet is essential for recovering after surgery, and scrambled eggs are high in vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients vital to recovery. 

It’s also important to eat eggs enriched with Omega-3 fatty acids. Avocado and cheese can be added to scrambled eggs to make a complete meal. You can also turn them into omelets when you want to draw out your inner chef.

• Smoothies: A smoothie is an easy way to get the vitamins and proteins you need in the morning. The recovery process helps your body rebuild itself after exercising and eating your food. It’s also a refreshing snack at any time of day, with lots of healthy fruits and vegetables added to make it a healthy meal.

• Soup: After tooth extraction procedures, blended soups are an excellent meal option. These soups are not only tasty, but they’re full of nutrient-rich vegetables to keep you strong and help you heal faster. Blended soups also provide hydration; this is vital after tooth extraction, especially since the procedure can be pretty painful.

You should avoid eating soup with large chunks of vegetables after tooth extraction. Eating them can irritate the wound and cause pain.

• Yogurt or Ice Cream: There’s a reason why dentists allow cold ice cream post-tooth extraction—it helps with the swelling and also tastes good, too, especially Greek yogurt. The protein in it enables you to recover after dental surgery. The creamy texture is ideal for eating while your mouth is sore.

Avoid

You should never eat the following foods post-tooth extraction as they irritate, draw more blood to the area, or negate the effects of painkillers, which in turn slows down recovery:

• Spicy Food

• Chewy Food

• Any Kind of Meat

• Alcoholic Beverages

• Crunchy Snacks

Conclusion

We hope this has been an informative read on the topic. Yes, you can eat certain foods, but please be careful. Eating after a tooth extraction is not a big deal, but you don’t want a simple procedure, like getting your tooth pulled, to lead to more significant health issues!

Visit a dentist in Arizona by booking an appointment with CFF Dental today! We’re a family dental clinic offering tooth-colored restorations, same-day crowns, bridges, dental implants, 3D x-rays, Invisalign orthodontics, extractions, and more! Schedule your visit now!