What Am I Allowed to Eat Following My Tooth Extraction?

Our dentist has the facts on what you can enjoy - and what you should avoid - after you have a tooth pulled.

Sometimes, a tooth pulling is in order - whether it be a wisdom tooth, an infected tooth, or any old tooth causing trouble!

In general, tooth extraction procedures are relatively quick and painless. But the aftercare is just as important as the procedure itself in order to ensure a quick and problem-free recovery. An essential component to this is knowing which foods you can eat, and which you should stay away from as you heal (including how you should eat, too)!

Foods to eat following tooth extraction

It’s pretty simple: only soft foods and liquids should be consumed for at least the first 24 hours following surgery. This includes foods like yogurt, Jell-O, applesauce, ice cream and/or pudding. Yum!

After the initial 24-hour period, you can begin to ease into foods with a little more substance to them such as cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs and/or brothy soups without any dense or chunky components that would require chewing.

Any foods consumed in the first couple days after your extraction should also be of cool or lukewarm temperatures - nothing extreme that could irritate the vulnerable area.

Foods to avoid following tooth extraction

It is generally advised to avoid consuming any alcoholic beverages for at least the first 24 hours following extraction. It is also advised to avoid eating any hard, chewy or crunchy foods (e.g. popcorn, chips, nuts, chewy meat and/or candy - the list goes on). There are a range of substitute foods offering protein that won’t put the healing area at risk, such as certain dairy products like milk and/or tofu.

HOW you eat matters, too

It’s important to limit chewing to the side opposite of the extraction for the time being, in addition to avoiding using a drinking straw or any suction motions from the mouth. This can actually dislodge the blood clot from the healing site, extending the duration of recovery.

If and when it comes down to it, our Danforth dentist will help you ensure a successful and smooth recovery following your dental extraction.

Should you ever undergo a tooth extraction with a caring and experienced dentist like our Dr. Maureen Fenn, you can rest assured that you and your smile are in good hands! Proper and detailed aftercare instructions will be provided to you, and we’ll be here to answer any questions you may have along the way.