Eating After a Simple Extraction

Soreness and tenderness are common after undergoing a simple tooth extraction. It is also common for the gums to contain open wounds which may be uncomfortable. While the mouth is healing during the recovery period, patients should avoid certain types of foods. This can include things that are hot, cold, spicy, crunchy, and sticky. The wound will typically take a few days to heal, and patients are encouraged to stick to a soft-food diet for the first 24-48 hours after the extraction procedure. It is important for patients to go slow as they start to incorporate regular foods back into their diet. Rushing the healing process can result in complications and significant discomfort.

Eating After a Tooth Extraction

Patients should avoid eating for at least four hours immediately after the extraction. During this time, the body will naturally form a blood clot. The clot is actually a critical part of the healing process. Patients should also avoid spitting, rinsing, and sucking immediately following the procedure. These actions can cause the blood clot to dislodge and result in challenges.

Post-Procedure Numbness

It is also best to avoid eating while the cheeks and tongue are still numb due to the anesthetic. Numbness may result in patients unintentionally biting down on the tongue or cheeks while chewing.

Patients should expect their mouth to be quite tender and the extraction site to be sensitive for at least a day. It is very common to have discomfort immediately following the extraction which is made worse by chewing.

During the recovery period, the following things should be avoided:

  • Hot or cold things
  • Food and drinks which are acidic
  • Sticky, spicy, and crunchy foods
  • Food such as seeds and nuts with small pieces
  • Chewy or crumbly foods

Soft-food Diet

For at least one day after the extraction, patients should follow a soft-food diet. This will include mild food that does not require any significant chewing. The following are considered to be soft foods: scrambled eggs, yogurt, smoothies, applesauce, and mashed potatoes. Patients should continue to avoid spitting, rinsing, and sucking for 24 hours or more after the procedure. After a decay or two, patients should be very gentle and careful when rinsing their mouth.

Oral Hygiene

For at least a day after surgery, the patient should avoid brushing their teeth. This allows time for the extraction site to begin healing. Following the first 24 hours, the patient can resume brushing but should use extremely gentle pressure and avoid brushing near the extraction site.

Post-procedure Diet

Patients can start introducing solid foods over the next few days as they feel ready. It will be easier for patients to chew, but there will still be a sore spot at the surgical site. Things which are hot, spicy, crunchy and acidic should be avoided as they can damage the sensitive gums which are still recovering. During the recovery period, the following foods can work well to reintroduce into the patient’s diet: soft vegetables or bread, pasta, noodles, rice, and cheese. Patients should go slow, be cautious, and trust their body as the recovery period will simply take time and should not be rushed.

About a week after the extraction, the patient can continue to introduce foods that they feel comfortable with. The healing will vary based on the individual patient, complexity of the procedure, and patient’s ability to follow the post-procedure care instructions. Most patients will be ready to reincorporate additional foods back into their diet after five days to a week following the extraction.

The extraction site should be stable after about a week. It is still important for patients to go slow as they introduce foods back into their diet. There is still a hole in the mouth. It is critical for patients to follow instructions from the dental team and go slow. This helps ensure a quick recovery and reduces the risk for complications.

Patients who suspect they may need to have a tooth extracted should contact the office today. The team can review the procedure, recovery process, timeline and any other questions the patient may have.

What is a Simple Extraction?