Foods to Eat After a Tooth Extraction

After having my two wisdom teeth taken out as well as a molar, I wondered what would be okay for me to eat for the next few days while the gum is healing. I asked the oral surgeon and I was told not to chew on the side that the tooth was extracted and to eat mostly soft foods and liquids. I was also told that hot liquids, such as hot soup is not good because it can cause more bleeding. The soup should be at room temperature or slightly warm.

The oral surgeons recommend eating soft foods, because the gum has to heal. Food could get trapped in the hole where your tooth was removed and may cause an infection or further the swelling. Another reason why it's best to eat soft foods is to prevent further bleeding from the area, allowing the blood to clot. Some complications, such as a painful dry socket, can result if someone is improperly eating or drinking.

I was also told not to drink from a straw, but rather drink from a glass. The sucking motion can also cause more bleeding. I do not smoke, but I saw on the instructions that the oral surgeon had given me, that you should not smoke after the extraction either. Here are some of the foods I ate for at least two days after my extractions.

Mashed potatoes are good, because they are soft. I also boiled carrots on the stove, then I put them in the blender, with a little bit of chicken broth and pureed them. I waited until the pureed carrots were room temperature before eating them. Other foods that you can puree or mash are sweet potatoes, yams and butternut squash.

If you do not feel like pureeing your food, maybe you could buy some baby food in jars the day before your surgery. Baby foods are sold in different varieties of fruits and vegetables.

Another thing I ate was soft noodles, such as egg noodles. I boiled the noodles so that they were very soft and easy to chew and swallow. I had to chew on the other side of my mouth and tried to keep all food particles away from the area where the tooth was pulled.

Some other foods that you can eat are jello, pudding, milkshakes, ice cream, yogurt and apple sauce. It is good to keep yourself hydrated, by drinking glasses of water and other healthy drinks. You could also make yourself a smoothie. Try to stay away from carbonated beverages and alcohol. Proper nourishment is needed for proper and speedier healing.

It is recommended to stay away from solid foods, such as meats or anything crunchy, like potato chips, pretzels and nuts. I would follow the soft food diet for a few days after the surgery, or depending on your oral surgeon's advice.