Eating After a Simple Extraction?

As the local anesthetic wears off following a simple dental extraction, the gums and jaw will probably feel tender and sore, and the site of the extraction is a vulnerable open wound that needs to heal, so it’s important to be thoughtful about what you eat and when you eat it after a simple extraction. Wait until the anesthetic has completely worn off to eat anything at all, to prevent serious damage caused by inadvertently biting your tongue or cheek. You should also avoid eating for about four hours after a dental extraction, giving your body time to form a healthy blood clot in the dental socket. This blood clot needs to stay in place in order for the dental socket to heal, so you’ll also want to avoid rinsing, spitting, or sucking for a few days after an extraction. Stick to soft foods for a couple of days, slowly incorporating additional nutritious options. Foods of extreme temperatures – either hot or cold – and foods that are spicy, acidic, crunchy, or sticky should be avoided until healing is complete. You may also find that it’s difficult or uncomfortable to chew dense foods, like meat, as the bone heals.

What Can I Eat on Day One and Day Two?

For the first 24 to 48 hours after a simple dental extraction, you probably won’t want to chew anything. While smoothies are a great way to consume lots of fiber and nutrients, make sure you don’t use a straw to drink your smoothies, as the sucking motion can dislodge the blood clot that’s so important to your healing. Try to introduce some soft foods to ensure balance and variety in your diet. Good options could include blended soups, Jell-O, yogurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soft cheeses, hummus, tofu, avocado, and banana. Rinse your mouth very gently after eating, and try to avoid the area of the extraction. You can brush your teeth gently after about a day and should otherwise follow your dentist’s comprehensive hygiene instructions.

What Can I Eat as My Extraction Continues to Heal?

After the first couple of days, you can introduce more solid foods into your diet. As chewing becomes more comfortable, you may find that spices, acids, and extreme temperatures still irritate your extraction site, so pay attention to your own healing and don’t do anything that makes your discomfort worse. Be mindful of any food that’s seeded or crumbly, to avoid irritating the extraction site with pieces of food debris, and continue to gently yet thoroughly clean the oral cavity as you introduce new foods into your diet. Consider adding cooked, soft vegetables to your daily menu, consistently avoiding anything too hard or crunchy. You might like soft breads, noodles, or rice, and cheese or canned tuna can be a satisfying source of protein that isn’t too hard to chew. You can use your own comfort levels to gauge what foods might be appropriate. As your extraction site continues to heal in the first week and beyond, test out each new food, making sure a small amount doesn’t cause discomfort before you commit to it. After a couple of weeks, you should be safe to enjoy the full breadth of a balanced, nutritious diet.

How Long Does a Simple Extraction Take to Heal