What can I eat after extractions?
Follow your dentist's instructions first, since they know which tooth came out and how it was removed. Soft, cool food for the first few days, chewed away from the site, is the usual starting point.
The first day
After a tooth comes out, a blood clot forms in the socket. That clot is the start of healing, and most of the advice about eating comes down to leaving it alone.
Wait until the numbness is gone before you eat, so you do not bite your cheek, lip or tongue without feeling it. If you had sedation, have someone with you and start with something light. Then keep to food that is soft and cool or lukewarm, and chew on the side away from the extraction.
What to eat, and when
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons advises cold, soft foods such as soups, yogurt, mashed potatoes and smoothies. Your dentist sets when to move on to firmer food.
The first few days
Soft, smooth, cool or lukewarm. Nothing that needs chewing.
- Yogurt, pudding and applesauce
- Scrambled eggs and cottage cheese
- Mashed potatoes and soft-cooked vegetables
- Lukewarm soup or broth
- Smoothies, eaten with a spoon
- Ice cream, if your teeth are not sensitive
As it heals
Soft but more solid. Cut small and chew away from the site.
- Oatmeal and soft cereal
- Pasta, rice and soft bread
- Tender fish and chicken
- Bananas and other soft fruit
- Soft cheese and macaroni
Not yet
Hard, sharp, sticky or tiny foods can irritate the socket or lodge in it.
- Chips, nuts, popcorn and crusty bread
- Seeds and grains that can get into the socket
- Chewy or sticky candy and gum
- Very hot food and drink
- Alcohol, and spicy food if it stings
Protecting the clot
The American Dental Association says to avoid drinking through a straw for 24 hours, and not to smoke or rinse your mouth vigorously. Heat and suction can disturb the clot. The association also notes that tobacco can slow healing, so stay off it for as long as the office says.
When the clot is lost, the bone in the socket can be exposed. This is called a dry socket. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons says its symptoms typically include severe pain within a few days after a tooth extraction. Call the office if that happens.
Drinks, and getting enough to eat
Water and other cold drinks are fine. Let hot drinks cool first.
If you are skipping meals because chewing hurts too much, soups, eggs, yogurt and smoothies taken with a spoon can still keep you fed. If eating stays hard, call the office.
When to call the office
Some soreness and a little oozing are normal early on. To control bleeding, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons advises gently biting down on gauze. Call us if bleeding does not slow with gentle pressure, if pain gets worse instead of better, or if you cannot eat or drink enough.
Get medical care promptly if your face or jaw swells or you have a fever. Call the office, or seek emergency care if you cannot swallow or breathe.
Next step
Extractions, wisdom teeth included, are done here in Winchester, TN, with IV conscious sedation available. If something does not feel right after one, call the office. You can also read what happens if wisdom teeth are not removed.