Foods That You Can Eat After Tooth Extraction

Whether you have undergone a wisdom or molar tooth extraction, the process can be painful. No doubt the extraction is discomforting. But, the unbearing thing about tooth extraction surgery is not eating the food that you love for a certain period. However, not following a proper diet can lead to severe complications and can prolong the recovery period which will be even more discomforting and painful.

 

 

If you are planning for a tooth extraction surgery, and want to know some tasty food products that you can consume without compromising on your taste buds, then this piece of writing is just for you. In this article, we have concluded foods that you can and cannot eat after a tooth extraction surgery for fast recovery and quick healing. So what are you waiting for? Let’s begin.

What is the Role of Diet in Post-Tooth Extraction?

A period that includes care that is required after the removal of a tooth is called post-tooth extraction. Post-tooth extraction includes the management of symptoms, the healing process, and steps taken to ensure proper recovery of the wound. Diet plays an important role in post-tooth extraction. After tooth extraction, it is important to stick with a proper diet in order to prevent any infection, or complications and to boost the healing process.

 

Eating inappropriate or not advised food during this time can lead to severe complications including bleeding, pain, infection, damage to wound, displacement of clots, etc. Read our guide to understand about proper diet and food that you can eat after tooth extraction.

List of Foods That You Should Avoid After Tooth Extraction:

No doubt, tooth extraction is a painful process. The most painful thing besides tooth extraction is not eating the food that you love for a certain period. It’s not advisable to eat food that is sticky, hard, or crunchy as it can get stuck at the site of tooth extraction and can cause severe problems.

 

After tooth extraction do not eat food like candies, popcorn, chips, nuts, granola, crackers, pretzels, etc. Besides that, do not eat or drink acidic food and drinks including sodas and citrus fruits. All sorts of food that falls into this category should be avoided because it can lead to delay or slow healing and pain.

 

Furthermore, it is not recommended to smoke or consume any alcoholic beverages. Doing so, can increase the chances of infection and ultimately will lead to slow healing of wounds.

List of Soft Food That You Can Eat for first Two Days After Extraction:

We know tooth extraction surgery can be troublesome. But, with a proper diet and precautions, you can easily recover and begin to eat your favorite food in a week or two. It is recommended to add soft food for the first two days after extraction. During the first 24-48 hours, you can stick to food like yogurt, pureed soup, cooked vegetables (that are tender), smoothies, jello, oatmeal, soft tofu, scrambled eggs, hummus, mashed potatoes, puddings, etc. One of the important things that is often ignored is the use of straws. Drinking water or any juice with a straw during the first 24-48 hours is not recommended as it can dislodge the clot and cause bleeding.

What Food Is Best for Healing the Wound?

For fast healing of wounds, you should add protein-rich food to your diet. Without any doubt, protein is important for healing the wound after tooth extraction as it helps in repairing tissues and building new ones. By adding protein-rich food to your diet, your wound will heal quickly and you will be able to eat everything you like in a short span of time. But the condition is you should stick with a healthy diet for 2-3 weeks after tooth extraction. You can consider the following protein-rich food for fast healing.

 

1. Eggs
2. Tofu
3. Chicken
4. Fish including cod and salmon
5. Soft cheeses
6. Ground turkey

 

It is best to include food like salmon in the diet as such meals contain high quantities of omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. Which play an important role in reducing inflammation and enhancing the healing process.

What Food Is Best For Enhancing Immunity?

Immunity plays an important role in fighting against various pathogens and getting rid of infections. When a person undergoes surgery whether minor or major, he/she is susceptible to plenty of infections. We have to keep our immune system strong in order to fight numerous infections that can affect our surgery site. Besides taking medicine, we can add certain foods to our diet that can enhance our immunity.

 

The food that plays an important role in enhancing immunity includes the following:

 

1. Vitamin C-rich food including a variety of berries
2. Citrus fruits including grapefruits, oranges, etc.
3. Green tea
4. Papaya
5. Shellfish
6. Almonds, etc.

 

Berries contain a sufficient quantity of antioxidants that can lessen inflammation and boost the working of the immune system.

 

What Food Is Best for Promoting Bone Growth?

After a tooth extraction surgery, it’s vital to take care of your alveolar bone. It is important to add certain foods to the diet that are best for promoting bone growth to avoid any bone loss. Everyone knows that vitamin D and calcium contribute a fair share in bone growth. The following is a list of foods that are best for promoting bone growth:

 

1. Spinach
2. Milk
3. Cheese
4. Kale
5. Yogurt
6. Mackerel
7. Nuts and seeds
8. Eggs
9. Beans and lentils
10. Dried fruits, etc.

List of Hydrating Drinks and Food That You Should Know:

To prevent xerostomia (dry mouth), it is important to consume drinks that can keep you hydrated. Some best hydrating drinks that you can include in your diet after tooth extraction include water, herbal tea, and coconut water.

 

Note: Do not drink caffeinated and hot beverages during the first two days of tooth extraction as it can increase the flow of blood to the extraction site and can cause bleeding.