After certain dental procedures like teeth removal, most of the patients are really worried about what they are going to eat. They often ask questions, and worry if they will ever eat normally again.
Can I eat bread after tooth extractions? is one such question, ubiquitous among patients.
This is a normal reaction. It’s common for people to get nervous if they are told they can’t do something; the belief that one cannot do it may actually make one want to do it.
Why You Should Watch What You Eat After Tooth Extraction
Once your bothersome tooth is extracted, you will literally be relieved that the healing process has started, and the pain will soon be gone. However, how well your gums heal depends on following your dentist’s aftercare instructions.
Soon after extraction, a blood clot is formed over the socket. This clot helps the nerves and gums to heal; moreover, it prevents bacteria and food from entering the open wound. These clots are jelly-like and thus can be disturbed by certain foods and drinks, which are to be avoided in order to protect the clot. The loss of the blood clot will translate into a dry socket, which may cause pain and slow down healing.
Eating Bread After Tooth Extraction
Bread comes in many types, so it’s hard to say if all bread is okay to eat after a tooth extraction. You can eat soft foods after the procedure, so if you want bread with your soup or in a sandwich, you can have soft bread.
Soft rolls or white and brown bread are fine but avoid crusty loaves, rye, sourdough, and seeded bread. These can disturb blood clots or hurt your gums. Eat fresh bread, not toasted, to protect your blood clots.
Chew food on the side of your mouth opposite to the extraction site to avoid disturbing it. Sometimes, dentists remove more than one tooth at a time, especially wisdom teeth or in emergencies. If you’ve had two or more teeth removed from different sides of your mouth, stick to soup for the first few days and avoid chewy foods.
How Soon Can You Eat Bread After Tooth Removal
Soggy bread may not be a good meal for many people. Tacos, burritos, and sandwiches need to be kept off the menu at least for some days after a tooth extraction until the gums heal.
The extracted site takes about a week to two weeks to fully close up with a blood clot before it heals completely. Once the pain and discomfort decrease, you can gradually resume your normal routine and add more solid foods to your diet.
Foods You Should Eat After Tooth Extraction
In all cases, the diet must be slightly changed to obtain adequate nutrition while not causing trauma to the sore mouth tissues after having teeth removed. For the first 48 hours post-procedure, you should stick to soft foods with the consistency of pudding or yogurt; they must be either lukewarm or cool in temperature. The type of diet that is given to babies before they have developed their teeth is acceptable.
Some examples of soft food are mashed bananas, applesauce, creamed or mashed potatoes, fruit smoothies (without seeds), and spaghetti, which are easily taken with minimal chewing.
Avoid hard foods, such as rice, pizza, and candies, which can easily get lodged in the extraction site or hurt your healing gums.
Aftercare Advice for Tooth Extraction
Your dentist will advise you regarding certain dos and don’ts after extraction, but it is good to know in advance what to expect. That way, you can plan your week and shop for food in advance.
After your tooth extraction, you should:
- Avoid intense exercise for the first 24 hours. Especially doing any heavy lifting.
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water several times a day.
- Apply an ice pack for 10 minutes at a time for pain relief.
- Brush and floss the other teeth as usual; however, be gentle around the extraction site initially.
- Avoid spitting and using straws for a few days.
- Rinse your mouth with saline solution 24 hours after the extraction and continue for a week.
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol for at least 7 days.
- Keep away from fizzy drinks in the first couple of days.
- Do not eat for 3-5 hours following the extraction.
- Be careful as you can with what you eat.
Use your own good judgment when choosing what you eat. If you ever have questions on what you can eat, you can contact your dental professionals to double check. Try to avoid foods that may be uncomfortable for you to eat because your gums will be tender and swollen.
Avoid crunchy, crumbly, spicy, scorching, icy foods and those with seeds. Avoid foods that are likely to dislodge the blood clot, may cause discomfort to your gums, or get stuck in the socket.
Conclusion
Proper nutrition is essential for successful healing after tooth extraction. A diet of soft, nutritious food will help the healing process, decrease discomfort, and allow you to resume your normal diet as soon as possible. Since every patient heals at a different rate, make sure to follow the post-operative instructions provided by your dentist specifically for your case.
For professional dental care and guidelines on recovering after an extraction, look no further than Enhance Dental Centre. Our highly professional team is dedicated to providing the best possible care and guiding you through a comfortable healing process. Contact us now for an appointment.
FAQs
1- Can you eat rice after tooth extraction?
Yes, but be careful. Choose softer rice types like jasmine or basmati, as they are less sticky. Make sure the rice is cooked well, and avoid adding hard or crunchy ingredients that might irritate the surgery area.
2- When can I brush my teeth with toothpaste after an extraction?
Do not use toothpaste for 3 to 4 days. When you brush your teeth, you spit out the toothpaste. This can loosen the blood clot and cause bleeding, which will restart the healing process.
3- When is a dry socket no longer a risk?
Most patients who have a tooth pulled heal in seven to ten days. After the wound heals, the blood clot is no longer needed to protect the tissue underneath, and the risk of a dry socket disappears.
