Just had a tooth pulled? Here's what to eat after tooth extraction, what to avoid, and simple tips for faster healing.
After a tooth extraction or wisdom tooth removal, what you eat plays a big role in how quickly you heal. The goal is to protect the blood clot that forms in the socket, because it is the foundation for healing.
First 24 Hours
- Wait until the numbness wears off before eating to avoid biting your cheek or tongue
- Choose cool or lukewarm, soft foods
- Chew on the other side of your mouth
Best Foods to Eat
- Curd and lassi (not too cold)
- Khichdi, dal and soft rice
- Mashed potatoes and well-cooked vegetables
- Suji upma or daliya
- Smooth soups, lukewarm
- Banana, papaya or fruit smoothies (eaten with a spoon)
- Scrambled eggs or soft paneer
- Ice cream or kulfi in the first day, which also soothes the area
Foods and Habits to Avoid
- Hot foods and drinks on the first day
- Hard, crunchy or chewy foods like nuts, chips and roti crusts
- Spicy and very sour foods that can irritate the wound
- Drinking through a straw, which can dislodge the clot
- Spitting forcefully or rinsing hard on the first day
- Smoking and alcohol, which slow healing and increase infection risk
What Is Dry Socket?
Dry socket happens when the blood clot is lost too early, leaving the bone exposed. It causes increasing pain two to four days after extraction. Following these tips greatly reduces the risk. If pain gets worse instead of better, contact your dentist.
Other Aftercare Tips
- Bite on gauze for 30 to 45 minutes after the extraction
- Use a cold compress on the cheek for swelling
- From the second day, rinse gently with warm salt water after meals
- Take medicines as prescribed
Most people return to normal eating within a few days to a week.
Related treatment: read more about Tooth Extraction in Mohali at Urja Dental Clinic.
Book a Visit at Urja Dental Clinic, Mohali
If you have any of these concerns, book a consultation at Urja Dental Clinic, S.S.S. (Bay Shop) 74, Sector 60, Phase 3B2, Mohali. We are easy to reach from Phase 3B1, Phase 5, Phase 7, Kharar and Chandigarh. Call +91 86999 69619 or +91 78890 93147, or book online.
