While your dentist will give you comprehensive written instructions before you leave your tooth extraction appointment, it can be helpful to prepare in advance so that you can have all of the supplies you need on hand. Read on for some general tips about what to eat after your tooth extraction.
Dietary Considerations After Tooth Extraction
Your tooth may be sensitive in the hours immediately following the tooth extraction. Therefore, for the first 24 hours after your tooth extraction, you should limit yourself to soft foods, such as:
- Mashed potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
- Fruit smoothies
- Oatmeal
As the days pass after your tooth extraction, you will be able to add more items back into your diet. However, the site may still be somewhat tender until healing is complete, so you may want to avoid crunch or extremely chewy foods and some cuts of meat for several more days.
Additional Tips for Post-Extraction Self-Care
Your nutritional intake is only one aspect of self-care after a tooth extraction, however. You will also want to make sure that you are doing everything possible to minimize your risk of infection and managing any discomfort, although that will naturally resolve over the first few days.
Your dentist will give you more detailed and comprehensive instructions, but these are just a few suggestions for taking care of the extraction site after your tooth has been removed.
- Take all medications, including any prescribed antibiotics, as instructed.
- Clean the extraction site as instructed by our office.
- Avoid smoking, which can cause inflammation that interferes with healing.
- Avoid using drinking straws to reduce your risk of dry sockets.
If you have any questions or concerns about taking care of your smile after a tooth extraction, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office. Our team at DeSanti & Linden Dentistry is here to help!