When Can I Eat Solid Food After Tooth Extraction? A Personal Guide
If you just had a tooth extraction and asking yourself when can I eat solid food after tooth extraction? If yes, you’re not alone! After this very common dental procedure, many people are left with the same query. I feel your pain – missing out on all of the foods you love and only having liquids for what feels like an eternity can suck. But not to worry, I’m here to share my own experience with you so that you can answer that question.
I remember wanting to dive back into non-liquid food after my own tooth extraction as quickly as I could! When would I be able to sink my teeth into a succulent sandwich or bite into an apple again? But, as you know already, after a tooth extraction you cannot go ahead and eat big items because they need time to heal up the gums. Digging too quickly into solid food can cause problems such as infection or dry socket which is very painful.
So, without further ado, here is everything about when you can eat solid food after tooth extraction to do with my experience and what I will learn along the way.
Why Can’t I Eat Solid Food Right After Tooth Extraction?
If you’re anything like me, you found yourself craving that first meal post-removal. So why is it crucial not to eat solid food in these first few days? Your mouth will require recovery time after the extraction. These blood clots that will form in the socket are vital to the healing process. Over time, this blood clot forms a barrier, protecting the bone and nerves underneath so your gum tissue can heal without infection.
During this healing period, eating solid food too quickly can be detrimental. If you bite your hard or crunchy food might break the blood clot and leads to intense pain or dry socket (which means that the blood clot has been removed and we can see the bone and nerves). This can make the recovery much longer & also a lot more painful.
The First Few Days After Tooth Extraction: What You Can Eat
For the first 24 to 48 hours following my extraction, I was limited to eating nothing but soft foods that would not disturb the site of the extraction. Now, I had to start being creative. So, what’s on the list?
- Broth-based soups: Hot, soothing, and nutrient-rich — as long as it’s not too hot.
- Smoothies — smoothies are where you can pile on the vitamins and proteins So be careful with the straw as it might dislodge the blood clot.
- Soft food options like mashed potatoes, which are filling and easy to consume.
- Yogurt: A great protein option that is smooth and gentle on the gums.
I was advised to stay away from hot food and hot drinks during this time as it could aggravate inflammation and pain. I also neglected any food that needed to be chewed as that would unnecessarily strain the gums.
When Can I Start Eating Solid Food After Tooth Extraction?
The burning question, right? From what I have experienced, you will be able to start eating on solid ground 3 to 7 days after having the extraction done – all depending on how quickly you are healing. That sabbatical time varies from the individual to person, along with your dentist will certainly provide you specific directions relative to your point of view facial removal.
I felt okay after around five days, which is personally when I would start eating soft solids like scrambled eggs or oatmeal. Do not hurry this stage at all. Doing it too quickly, however, can aggravate the extraction site and lead to a longer recovery.
What Happens If I Eat Solid Food Too Soon?
And if you are wondering what happens when you eat hard food too early, check out my experience. Day four and I wanted a slice of pizza (hey, we all have cravings). I had tears for eyes, but I was sure that it would be fine if I just chewed on the crust, but then immediately regretted. It hurt like hell, I got swollen around the hole.
As I would soon discover, eating hard or crunchy foods puts you at increased risk for dry socket. That painful, horrible condition instead cost me weeks of hurting and an even longer recovery time.
So the lesson takeaway here is about patience. Instead, the best way is to take your time and allow your body to recover. Trust me, the reward is well worth the wait!
Soft Foods You Can Enjoy in the First Week
The first week after extraction can be difficult if you are completely lost when it comes to ideas for food, the good news is there are many types of foods that will not irritate your extraction site. So, here is what I ate in the first couple of days:
- Bananas, mashed up: Sweet and simple to eat. Easy to keep, soft, not much dedicate.
- Applesauce: Great whenever we have a craving for something sweet and mushy.
- Pudding and Jell-O: These were my go-to saviors, mostly because they required no chewing.
- Oatmeal and Cream of Wheat — Soft & filling. Sometimes, I flavored with honey or fruit.
These kept me satiated and nourished while my gums healed. Slow down a little; baby food isn’t going anywhere.
Can I Eat Solid Food After One Week?
Around day 7, your gums may feel healed enough to start trying soft solids like scrambled eggs, pancakes or pasta. However, avoid anything that needs a lot of chewing, including but not limited to: raw vegetables, steak or chips.
I graduated to soft solids like toast with butter, scrambled eggs and pasta with marinara sauce. I ate all the simple foods that I could chew and that didn’t require much work from the site of healing. This is okay to splurge a little, but wisely so!
What Foods Should I Avoid After Tooth Extraction?
Now, I get your favorite foods are calling you after tooth extraction, but here are some foods to avoid after tooth extraction. These include:
- Tough Foods: Anything that takes lots of chewing, for example nuts, popcorn or raw veggies can disrupt the recovery process.
- Foods that stick: For remodels like caramel or chewing candy can even obtain stuck in the SIMPLE THEME and promote infection.
- Crunchy foods: These may irritate the extraction site and also dislodge the blood clot.
- Spicy Foods: Spicy foods can irritate in your mouth and delay healing.
What I learned the hard way: Never, ever consume hard or crunchy snacks regardless of how much you enjoy them.
How Can I Speed Up My Recovery and Eat Solid Food Sooner?
It is essential to adhere to your dentist’s instructions, but if you want to shorten recovery time and return to solid food more quickly, here are a few tricks:
- Stick to post-extraction care instructions: That means, rest, specific meals and ice packs for the swelling.
- Take warm saltwater rinses: This helps calm down swelling and keeps the extraction site clean.
- Drink lots of fluids: This allows your body to recover more quickly.
- Sleep: rest is important for healing.
For me personally, following these tips made me feel better much more quickly than I would have otherwise.
When Can I Return to My Normal Eating Habits?
You should be back to most of your normal eating within around 2 weeks, but only if you are healing well. But as your knee heals, refrain from harder foods such as steak, raw vegetables, and nuts. It was about 10 days before I you start eating most food but I only chewed on the other side of my mouth where it was taken out.
If this time is painful or troubling, you should postpone the solid food for a bit longer.
Conclusion: Patience Pays Off When It Comes to Eating After Tooth Extraction
When can I eat solid food after tooth extraction is a question with an answer that… Ultimately total does with listening to your individual physique and the cautious. As a rule of thumb — stick to soft foods for about 3-7 days post-extraction. After that, eat solid foods according to your body tolerates it as well.
Keep in mind, being too soon back on solid food may result in harder complications that are going to require more recovery time. Simply put, take things slow, heed your dentist’s recommendations and do not be in a rush to eat solids. I know waiting sucks but trust me it is worth to not having any discomfort when you have that first bite of your meal!
In the end, after a tooth extraction, patience and care are your best friends. After your mouth is healed, just embrace the positive and keep eating what you love!