Here are some things that are safe (and tasty!) to eat after you’ve had a tooth removed:
- Refried beans and guacamole: skip the chips and add guac directly to your beans
- Milkshakes: try making a milkshake using mashed frozen bananas or yogurt as a healthier, tooth-friendly alternative!
- Soups: brothy soups that don’t need to be chewed are going to be incredibly soothing
- Mashed potatoes: make sure they’re nice and smooth without too many lumps
- Smoothies: avoid fruits with seeds and blend up your favorite fruits and greens
- Jello: whether it’s the original gelatin or pudding, both will be a relief
- Eggs: a nice, soft meal with lots of protein. Add in some shredded cheese for a dose of probiotics!
- Instant oatmeal: avoid steel-cut oats as they will be too tough to swallow whole
- Well-cooked pasta: mac and cheese is soft and filling
Here are a few things you definitely want to avoid after your tooth extraction:
- Roasted vegetables, bread, and meat: If you have chew it, it should be avoided.
- Straws: Drink your smoothies, milkshakes, and everything else without using a straw. The suction from using a straw can dislodge the blood clot in your extraction site that prevents dry socket which can cause infection not to mention lots of unnecessary pain.
- Seeds, nuts, chips, crackers: If it crunches you don’t want it anywhere near your mouth.
- Spicy foods: Too much spice in your foods right now can cause stinging and burning in your mouth around the extraction site which isn’t something anyone wants to deal with.
Do yourself a favor and stock up on your groceries before your procedure- no one wants to shop while they’re groggy!