What to Eat and Avoid After Tooth Extraction for Faster Healing?

Tooth extraction is a very common dental procedure. However, the recovery can go smoothly, or it can be complicated, depending on the aftercare. After any dental process, knowing what to eat and what to avoid is a very crucial step. 

By making smart decisions regarding food, you can easily speed up your recovery and minimize unnecessary complications. 

In this blog, we will be discussing what to eat and what to avoid after getting a tooth extraction to ensure a smoother recovery. 

Foods To Eat After Tooth Extraction

Eating the right foods means ensuring faster healing and less irritation to the extraction site. 

Here are some of the foods that you can consider adding to your postoperative diet. 

1. Soft Foods: 

Easy-to-chew foods do not irritate the wound. So mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and yogurt are great options.

2. Smoothies: 

Smoothies are packed with vitamins and minerals; they can be good nutrition for the healing of gums. You should not use a straw, as sucking can disturb the blood clot and slow healing.

3. Soup:

Warm soups are often considered to be perfect for healing. They are hydrating and, at the same time, easy on your mouth.

4. Oatmeal:

Oatmeal is a soft and nutritious breakfast option. Just make sure it is cooled down so you do not burn the extracted area.

5. Protein-rich Food:

Protein helps in tissue repair. So eat foods like tofu, cottage cheese, or well-cooked fish.

6. Pureed Vegetables:

Vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, or peas are easy to be consumed without hurting the extraction site.

Foods to Avoid After Tooth Extraction 

There are foods that can delay the healing after tooth extraction in Pasadena and cause unnecessary pain.

These are:

1. Hard Foods

Foods that are hurt or crunchy can easily irritate the extraction site and even dislodge the blood clot. Hence, nuts, chips, and raw vegetables should be avoided.

2. Hot Beverages

Hot foods can cause discomfort and also affect the healing process, so it is better to leave them in the first few days of recovery.

3. Spicy Foods

Spices can easily irritate your mouth and cause unnecessary pain around the extraction site. So dentists usually advise avoiding these foods.

4. Alcohol 

Alcohol and recovery never go together. It can interfere with the healing process and also dry out your mouth. A dry mouth can lead to more complications.

5. Sugary Foods

Excess sugar means more chances of infection and a slow healing process, so it is better to avoid sweets and sugary drinks, especially sodas.

6. Acidic Foods

Acidic foods like citrus fruits and tomatoes, have the ability to cause discomfort around the extraction site. So, it is better to ignore them.

What are the Other Tips for Recovery?

As per studies, every year, 10 million wisdom teeth are extracted in the U.S. only. In this huge number, diet definitely plays a big role. 

But, apart from a suitable diet, these can be your go-to guidelines for a faster recovery. 

• Drink enough water and keep your mouth moist.
• Avoid any hard activities and take as much rest as possible.
• Stop smoking, as it can delay your healing.
• Strictly follow the post-operation instructions given by your dentist.

By choosing the right foods and avoiding those that delay the healing process, you can guarantee a comfortable and faster recovery after tooth extraction. These dietary recommendations, along with the post-operative guidelines of your dentist, will help in reducing the pain and speeding up the healing process.

If you need more professional advice on tooth extraction, schedule an appointment with our dental professional.