If you’ve had a tooth extracted recently, you definitely know what to eat afterward. Your oral hygiene and diet play an important role in the healing process of your teeth after extractions. If you don’t watch what you eat after a tooth extraction, you risk infection of your bones and gums. In many cases, osteomyelitis also occurs – a postoperative complication in which an infection affects the underlying bone.
The two main reasons tooth extractions happen are tooth decay and wisdom tooth pain. In addition to wisdom teeth removal, you should change your food choices after wisdom teeth removal. This article contains everything you need to know about how to care for your teeth after tooth extraction and what diet to follow.
1. What should I eat after wisdom teeth extraction?
One of the reasons tooth extractions happen is wisdom teeth. They are also known as third molars and can cause a lot of pain. On the other hand, cavities can also damage teeth to the point that extraction is the only option for dentists. In both cases, the patient must be prepared for postoperative care, and diet plays an important role in this. The most common recommendation from dentists is to eat soft foods that are good for both teeth and the stomach.
Remember that chewing can be difficult as your gum tissue is healing, so soft foods are a good solution. Also, your food may not be broken up enough to be digested due to the altered bite pattern. For easier digestion, you can include some soft but nutritious foods.
The first 24-48 hours are critical during recovery. It is important to be extra careful and consume liquids or soft foods during this time. Smoothies shake, and pureed or mashed foods are great during this time. Continue eating solid foods slowly and steadily, but avoid hard or sticky foods. Watch your diet for at least a month or until the surgical site is fully healed.
Next, we’ll discuss different soft, healthy foods that you can try to recover faster after wisdom teeth removal or tooth extractions in general. If you’re wondering what to eat after tooth extraction, here’s a list of foods to try with every meal of the day:
Breakfast:
- Banana Oatmeal
- scrambled or boiled eggs
- Avocado Smoothie
- Banana and Greek Yogurt Smoothie
Lunch:
- vegetable puree
- Hummus
- spaghetti
- chicken
- Quick Smoothie with Dates and Seasonal Fruits
For dinner:
- Baked Chicken (shredded to eat)
- Lentil Soup
- Roasted sweet potato
- grilled fish
- Mac and Cheese
2. What should I eat after tooth extraction and bone grafting?
Sometimes after the dental implant is removed, bone grafting is also needed to elevate the receding bone. If you’re currently going through something like this, your diet is, again, the most important thing. Whether it is a normal tooth extraction or a bone graft, soft foods are the best choice to protect your teeth. We’ll share with you a list of nutritious and tender foods, along with recipes to turn them into delicious meals.
For optimal recovery after an extraction procedure, we recommend the following healthy, soft, and easily digestible foods:
breakfast:
- Banana Oatmeal
- Scrambled or boiled eggs
- Avocado Smoothie
- Banana and Greek Yogurt Smoothie
Lunch:
- Vegetable puree
- Hummus
- Spaghetti
- Chicken
- Quick Smoothie with Dates and Seasonal Fruits
dinner:
- Baked Chicken (shredded)
- Lentil Soup
- Roasted sweet potato
- Grilled fish
- Mac and Cheese
1) Breakfast Options
Below are the details of your breakfast options:
#1 Mixed Oatmeal and Bananas
Not only is oatmeal gentle on your stomach, but it’s also high in fiber and makes a great meal with milk (whole or skim). Blend them into a powder in a grinder so you don’t need to chew them. To make it more nutritious and tasty, you can add mashed bananas to the mix. In addition, ground nuts can make the taste more delicious and improve the nutritional value.
When it comes to oatmeal, people can experiment endlessly, especially after sensitive procedures like tooth extraction. Not only does it have countless health benefits, it’s also easy to prepare and digest.
#2 Scrambled or boiled eggs
It’s one of the breakfast staples that almost no one can say no to. There’s nothing like scrambled custard eggs for breakfast. Especially if you’re going through the dreaded period of recovering from a tooth extraction. Likewise, hard-boiled eggs are a great choice for breakfast if you’re craving something soft, easy to digest, and packed with protein. Avoid that very tempting toast with eggs for quicker surgical site recovery. You can also add cottage cheese to scrambled eggs because it’s healthy and easy to chew.
#3 Avocado Smoothie
Smoothies are great if you want something super healthy and stomach-friendly. They are especially helpful if you are currently recovering from oral surgery. Avocados are rich in potassium and folic acid, both of which aid in wound healing. For smoothie prep, you can use an avocado or half and Greek yogurt for a thick and filling smoothie. Add and blend seasonal fruit to boost the nutritional value of your smoothie.
#4 Banana and Greek Yogurt Smoothie
Bananas are a great source of potassium that is easy to prepare and digest. Together, bananas and Greek yogurt create a soft and healthy smoothie that packs a lot of nutritional value. It doesn’t take more than 5 minutes to prepare this smoothie, and yogurt is a great source of calcium. Calcium accelerates bone healing, so it can speed up the restoration process of the underlying dental bone.
2) Lunch options:
Below are the details of your lunch options:
#1 Vegetable Rice
Eating small amounts of rice is a great way to keep yourself feeling full for longer. Adding some form of protein to rice also works wonders. If you’re worried about what to eat after tooth extraction, mix rice with mashed vegetables for a healthy lunch. For added protein, choose something soft but nutritious, such as fish or shredded chicken. Rice provides carbohydrates, and vegetables such as mashed carrots, cucumbers, or beetroot provide a variety of vitamins/minerals.
#2 Hummus
Hummus is not only delicious, but it has several health benefits. Hummus’ soft and creamy consistency and various health benefits make it ideal for a post-diet diet. Soft pita bread can add carbohydrates to a meal and keep you feeling full for longer. However, make sure not to forcefully bite and chew while eating to avoid any post-extraction complications.
#3 Spaghetti
Pasta is the fastest and easiest food to prepare after tooth extraction. If you want to choose a healthier option, choose whole-grain pasta over regular pasta. Likewise, you can add your protein of choice for a complete meal. Make sure it’s not something too hard on the teeth, like shredded fish or chicken, or meat.
#4 Chicken
Make sure your post-extraction diet includes plenty of protein. Consuming protein can speed up the recovery process. Ground chicken is nutritious and has a fine chew, making it ideal for a post-tooth extraction diet. Take 2 to 3 chicken breasts and cut them into cubes. Add salt and pepper to taste and grind in a food processor or grinder.
#5 Quick Smoothie with Dates and Seasonal Fruits
During recovery, energy-providing food and drinks must be consumed. Smoothies are great for energizing you. They’re quick and easy and don’t require many ingredients. All you need is milk or yogurt, protein powder (optional), 3 to 4 dates, a banana, or any other fruit that’s in season. Calcium, vitamin D, and potassium are all found in abundance in this smoothie. It helps you charge and recover quickly after extraction.
3) Dinner options:
Here are quick and easy-to-make dinner options you can try after tooth extraction:
#1 Baked Chicken
When you’re recovering from a tooth extraction, make sure to eat foods that will help you heal faster. Any form of protein is fine during this time but cooked in an easily digestible way. Roast chicken is a great healthy way to meet your daily protein needs. Protein speeds up the body’s healing, so it must be consumed daily. If cooking isn’t one of your strong suits, don’t worry because this dish is fairly simple. All you need is an oven, chicken, and some seasonings. Shred the chicken to make it easier to chew.
Chicken breasts are great for baking because you don’t have to remove any bones. Thaw the chicken and marinate it with seasonings, salt, pepper, paprika, etc. Let it sit for at least 1 hour to fully absorb the fragrance. Then use a roasting brush or wear gloves to baste the chicken so it’s juicy and full of flavor. If you’re using medium chicken breasts, bake them in the oven for no more than 30 minutes. Use a thermometer if you’re not sure if the chicken is done and tender enough. The ideal temperature is 75 degrees Celsius. Add mashed potatoes to the mix for a complete meal.
#2 Lentil Soup
Soup is ideal when a person is recovering from a tooth extraction. They are light and healthy, especially the lentil soup. You can easily prepare it at home. Soak the lentils (red or yellow) in water for 2 or 3 hours. Put them in a pot with water and add 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper. Heat it until the lentils soften and thicken.
Once the soup is formed, turn off the heat and let it sit for a few minutes. Place the mixture in a grinder with 1/4 cup of water and grind on medium speed. The result is a thick, creamy texture ready to be enjoyed. You can also add vegetables like boiled potatoes, eggplant, etc. while the lentils are heating. You can use chopped parsley as a garnish and you have a healthy and tasty soup.
#3 Roasted sweet potato
The trick to feeling better and recovering faster is to switch to healthier food alternatives. Instead of regular potatoes, try sweet potatoes, as they are low in calories and delicious. Once you mash or roast them, they are soft enough to eat after extraction. At the same time, they are rich in potassium, which will keep you feeling full for a long time.
#4 Grilled fish
It doesn’t mean your food has to be bland and tasteless just because you’re recovering from dental surgery. Since soft foods are preferred during this time, try a variety of proteins. Instead of chicken or beef, eat fish. Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and other important vitamins/minerals. Instead of frying fish, bake it to ooze out more of its natural oils. Fillets are more readily available than other types of fish.
Prepare the seasoning mixture and preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Add 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp melted butter, 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, 1.5 tsp pepper, and salt to taste. Use a grill brush to lightly brush the mixture over the fish or dip it into the mixture. Let it rest for at least an hour. Now put the fish in the oven and let it sit for 20-25 minutes. Remove the fish once it looks flaky or opaque.
#5 Mac and Cheese
While this dish isn’t the healthiest, sometimes comfort food is all you need, especially after dental surgery. Macaroni and cheese is a quick and easy dish after tooth extraction. All you need is a box of elbow macaroni, cheese, and other regular ingredients that are easy to find in your kitchen. In a large pot, cook the macaroni until it is tender. Take a saucepan, melt a little butter, put 1/4 cup of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and pepper. Slowly pour 2 cups of milk into the mixture and whisk until smooth. Now add 2 cups of cheddar cheese and stir until the cheese melts. Pour mixture over macaroni while heating over low heat. It is now ready to use.
Choose low-fat cheese and milk for a healthier version of macaroni and cheese.
3. What should I not eat after tooth extraction?
What you eat and what you don’t eat and drink after a tooth extraction is key to a healthy and stable recovery. We already know that hard and chewy foods can be damaging to recovery areas. Knowing which foods to avoid during recovery is crucial so complications don’t arise.
- Spicy food
- hard and sticky food
- no drinking or smoking
- avoiding foods that are too cold or too hot
1) Spicy food
If you are a fan of spicy food, you may wish to reduce your intake after tooth extraction. Not only is this generally bad for you, but it can create some serious problems after extraction. It can irritate the stitches and cause sore gums. Eating spicy and acidic foods can also cause stomach problems such as GERD ( gastroesophageal reflux disease), peptic ulcers, etc. Research has shown that the long-term effects of GERD on teeth include tooth erosion and tooth wear.
2) Hard and sticky food
After tooth extraction, the most important thing is to let the wound rest for at least 24 hours or so. Avoid hard and sticky foods such as nuts, figs, candy, etc. Continue the diet without these foods for at least 2 weeks after surgery. A soft food diet can speed up recovery and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.
3) No drinking or smoking
We know you’ll be tempted to reach for that glass of red wine post-surgery. However, it can do more harm than good to you after dental procedures such as tooth extractions. Alcohol may temporarily numb the pain, but in the long run, it will only slow the healing process. It increases the risk of surgical site infection. The same possibility exists if you smoke after tooth extraction. It can dehydrate your mouth and your stitches can tear if you suck too hard. “Dry socket” is another problem if you continue to smoke and drink.
4) Avoiding foods that are too cold or too hot
The first two days after surgery are critical to the recovery process. Watching your diet also includes avoiding foods that are too hot or too cold. If you already have sensitive issues, it’s best to stay away from extreme temperatures. Instead, choose room temperature or lukewarm water, or another liquid. Eating foods that are too hot or too cold can cause sore or inflamed gums around the affected area. Therefore, extreme care must be taken to avoid such postoperative complications.
4. Post-extraction Diet FAQs
Below are inquiries we receive about food options after tooth extraction.
1) How to eat after tooth extraction?
We recommend that you be gentle and careful with what you eat after tooth extraction. Eat from the tooth on the other side to avoid putting pressure on the surgical site. To make this process easier to manage, we recommend eating soft foods for the next 2-3 weeks. A soft food diet includes bananas, mashed potatoes, smoothies, cottage cheese, yogurt, juices, and more. The key is to eat healthy and nutrient-dense foods for a smooth and sustained recovery.
2) Why eat soft food after tooth extraction?
Soft foods are good after tooth extraction because they tend to stick to your teeth when you chew. You can avoid putting too much pressure on your teeth with soft foods. With a soft food diet, you can heal faster and return to your normal eating habits once the extraction site is fully healed.
3) When should I start eating after tooth extraction?
You can resume eating 24 hours after surgery. You can have soft foods immediately after surgery, but smoothies or shakes are best. The reason it’s best to drink fluids for the first 24 hours is that you won’t be putting pressure on your teeth by chewing. Especially chewing hard food during this time can be dangerous and cause bleeding or infection.
4) When to Eat Solid Food After a Tooth Extraction?
The first 48 hours are critical in the healing process. Dentists recommend liquid or soft foods during this phase. However, you can start solid food after 48 hours, but make sure the food is soft and easy to chew.
5) What can I eat after the first day of tooth extraction?
You must keep your diet light and soft after day 1. It works better if you consume a healthy liquid such as a smoothie, shake, or juice. You can make a healthy fruit smoothie using seasonal fruit and Greek yogurt or milk. Since your diet plays a huge role in the healing process, extra care is the right thing to do. On day 1, you can also eat ice cream for immediate relief from extreme pain.