What to Eat After Your Tooth Extraction

While the advice to eat soft foods after a tooth extraction may have your mind roam to ice cream, it’s crucial to eat nutritional meals to help promote recovery.

While the advice to eat soft foods after a tooth extraction may have your mind roam to ice cream, it’s crucial to eat nutritional meals to help promote recovery. If you recently had a tooth extraction or are prepping for the procedure, keep reading to see what foods you should add to your grocery list!

How Long After a Tooth Extraction Can I Eat?

After tooth extraction, you should consume soft foods or liquids for at least the first 24 hours. A tooth extraction is an invasive procedure, so it is important to follow recovery directions to promote healthy recovery and avoid irritation. Though the following foods are safe and great to eat after an extraction, still chew on the opposite side of your mouth from the extraction area and avoid using a straw!

Dairy Products

Did you know that calcium and phosphates in dairy products help put minerals back into your teeth and rebuild tooth enamel? While dairy products can benefit your teeth, most are soft and contain protein, which is easy and important to consume after an extraction. If you have a dairy intolerance, substitute with a dairy alternative! Ideas include:

Greek Yogurt
Cottage Cheese
Smoothies

Soup & Other Soft Foods

Soup is tasty, full of nutrients, and a great mix between a liquid and solid. Not only can lukewarm soup fill you up, but soup can provide hydration, which is extremely important after tooth extraction. If soup is not possible, something similar in texture can be just as easy to consume. Ideas include:

Mashed Potatoes
Oatmeal
Scrambled Eggs

Tooth Extractions in Chesterfield, Missouri

Do you have a tooth that is causing severe pain or overcrowding? A tooth extraction may be able to alleviate your problem. If a dental extraction is necessary, our team at Chesterfield Dentistry offers both gentle dental extractions and restorative dental services to help your smile stay healthy. To learn more about our tooth extraction process or schedule your visit, give our office a call!