Maintaining a healthy diet and consistent oral hygiene routine will promote faster healing following a tooth extraction. Here at At Burlington Family Dental Centre, we strive to save your tooth before tooth removal, but when can you start eating again, and which foods are safe?

When Can You Eat After a Tooth Extraction Again?

Once the effects of the anesthesia have worn off, you can begin to eat again after a tooth extraction, but you should opt for softer foods that do not require much chewing. Soups, smoothies, and other liquid or tender meals are best.

What Can You Eat The First 24 to 48 Hours After Tooth Extraction

Within a few hours following a tooth extraction, you should prioritize cold and liquid foods to help the healing process. Such foods may include:

  • Fresh fruit puree (apples, berries, etc.);
  • Soft or mashed fruits (avocado, banana, etc.)
  • Chocolate mousse or pudding;
  • Smoothies and milkshakes;
  • Cold soup;
  • Frozen yogurt and ice cream.

What You Can Eat The First Three Days After Tooth Extraction

The patient can start eating warm and soft foods a few days after tooth extraction. Here are some examples of meals that should be present on the menu:

 

The Tooth Extraction Process

A tooth extraction is a dental procedure that requires only local anesthesia in most cases and rarely takes more than a half-hour. But what does the tooth extraction process entail?

The dentist selects one of the following extraction techniques depending on the number and location of teeth they have to take out:

  • Simple extraction. Simple exodontics is possible when the tooth to extract is visible and accessible. The dentist first uses local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth. After that, he loosens the tooth of the bone and the gum using forceps and then simply pulls it out of its socket.
  • Surgical extraction. Surgical extraction requires the dentist to cut the gum to remove the tooth. Odontectomy is necessary for teeth that are hard to reach and embedded deep in the gum line, with roots firmly affixed to the bone. Dentists perform surgical extractions under general anesthesia. Stitches are then put in place to protect the gums during healing.

What is a Dry Socket

Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) can occur during post-tooth extraction healing. It happens when the protective blood clot dislodges or deteriorates too soon, exposing the bone and nerve endings. Dry sockets are very painful and require you to see a specialist to assess the situation and decide on the most appropriate treatment. What should a tooth extraction look like while healing?

Learn More About Tooth Extraction in Burlington

If an inexplicable toothache is ruining your day-to-day life, give our dental clinic a call. Burlington Family Dental Centre offers tooth removal and emergency tooth extraction. One of our experienced dentists will examine your oral health and let you know whether or not you require tooth extraction in a minimally invasive way.   Request a free initial consultation today to discuss tooth extraction.

     

    References

    1. Kolokythas, A., Olech, E. and Miloro, M. (2010b) “Alveolar osteitis: a comprehensive review of concepts and controversies.,” International Journal of Dentistry [Preprint]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/249073.
    2. Passarelli, P.C. et al. (2020) “Reasons for Tooth Extractions and Related Risk Factors in Adult Patients: A Cohort Study,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(7), p. 2575. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072575.
    3. Tolentino, P.H.M.P. et al. (2019) “Tooth Extractions in Patients with Periodontal Diseases and Clinical Decision-Making Process,” Acta Stomatologica Croatica, 53(2), pp. 141–149. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15644/asc53/2/6.

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