Foods To Avoid After Tooth Extraction: Essential Tips

Whether a tooth extraction is necessary because of decay, injury, or problems with a wisdom tooth, it can feel like a relief. However, recovery is where the real difficulty begins, and nutrition is a key factor to mend it. Eating the incorrect foods might cause discomfort, delay the healing process, or even bring problems like dry socket.

How can these setbacks be avoided, then? Let’s explore the list of foods you should skip during the recuperation period.

Importance of Diet Following Tooth Extraction

It takes time for your mouth to heal following an extraction. To shield the area, a blood clot forms in the socket, minimizing discomfort and avoiding infections. Eating the incorrect foods can cause discomfort, slow recovery, or dislodge this clot. For this reason, eating the correct food is essential to a quick and easy recovery.

Avoiding Specific Foods After The Surgery

• Hard meals and crunchy snacks can irritate the extraction site and perhaps result in bleeding. Steer clear of seeds, nuts, crackers, chips, popcorn, hard candies, etc.
  
• For chewy and sticky foods, cleaning might be challenging when sticky items become stuck in the extraction site. Avoid gum chewing, toffee with caramel, and gummy candies.

• Acidic and spicy foods might irritate and make you feel uncomfortable after tooth extraction. These consist of peppers and hot sauces, citrus fruits, and products made from tomatoes (pasta sauce).
  
• Alcohol-containing or overly heated beverages can exacerbate pain and delay healing. During this period, ignore tea and coffee (if too hot), drinks that include alcohol, and sodas with carbonation.
  
• Tough meats can be uncomfortable to chew and put stress on the extraction site. Steer clear of jerky with steak, solid slices of chicken, etc.

The Effects of Bad Dietary Decisions

Dry socket comes from a dislodged blood clot and affects between 2–5% of people who have had their teeth extracted. A smooth recovery can be ensured, and this complication can be avoided by sticking to soft, non-irritating foods, which is essential for good oral health. 

What To Eat Instead?

Here are some safe substitutes for the items listed above:

• Yogurt, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes.
• Seedless and straw-free smoothies.
• Soft, prepared soups and veggies.
• Oatmeal and applesauce.

Additional Tips for a Quick Healing

• To avoid suctioning the clot loose, use a spoon rather than a straw.
• To stay hydrated and help with the healing process, drink lots of water.
• As directed by dentist, rinse your mouth gently with salt water to maintain the cleanliness of the extraction site.
• Pay close attention to the aftercare instructions provided by dentist.

Overall, how well you heal following a tooth extraction depends on your diet. Avoiding meals that are hard, sticky, hot, or acidic might hasten recovery and avoid complications. To keep your mouth comfortable and clean, limit your intake to soft, nourishing meals and drink lots of water.

Do you need suggestions on post-extraction care? For the optimal recuperation strategy, speak with our dentist today.