Recovering from a tooth extraction comes with its share of challenges. Whatever issue you had has likely been dealt with, but you are now left with a sore socket (the hole left in the gums when a tooth is removed) that can take a couple of weeks to fully heal.
While the site of the extraction heals, the patient's ability to eat hard, tough or crunchy foods is severely limited.
Patients are better off sticking to soft foods, preferably those that contain all the essential nutrients needed for the body to repair itself. Here are nutritious foods that can be safely eaten after an extraction:
Mashed potatoes are easy on a person's teeth and are a great source of fiber and carbohydrates. This dish is extremely easy to make from scratch, and there are many instant mashed potatoes products available. Patients should ensure that there are no large lumps in the dish since biting down on one of these can aggravate the site of the extraction.
If there is one set of people who have every right to eat as much ice cream as they want, it is those who are recovering from an extraction. Patients should go for flavors that do not contain any lumps of fruits or candy.
Ice cream is a great source of proteins, which are essential for tissue repair. The cold from it also soothes the site of the extraction. This helps quicken the recovery process.
Patients should stock up on soups (especially broth-based ones) when preparing for an extraction. It provides much-needed protein, as well as a variety of minerals. It is a great way to get nutrients that are essential for recovery without consuming much sugar.
Soups should be consumed while warm and not hot. The site of the extraction will be sore for a few days, and hot liquids can aggravate it, lengthening the person's recovery. Nutritious soup options to consider after an extraction include celery, tomato and chicken noodle soup.
As is the case with all other soft foods, patients should stay away from anything that contains chunks of meat or vegetables.
There are literally countless options when it comes to smoothies and milkshakes. The smooth types will not aggravate an extraction site, and both are packed with lots of proteins and other nutrients. Do not use a straw to consume these since the suction caused can disrupt the healing site.
Recovering from a tooth extraction is not something anyone looks forward to, but it does give you the perfect excuse to eat all the ice cream and smoothies you want. Feed your body with the nutrients it needs to repair itself to ensure your recovery goes smoothly.
Reach out to our Los Gatos office to learn more about things to eat after an extraction.
Request an appointment here: https://www.scmountaindental.com or call Brent C. Lay, DDS at (408) 500-0813 for an appointment in our Los Gatos office.
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