Whether you have had a tooth extracted, a new dental implant placed, root canal therapy, or another dental procedure, one of the most common aftercare recommendations is to eat a diet solely of liquids and soft foods for the first 24 to 48 hours after your dental work. This ensures you prevent unnecessary inflammation from occurring inside your mouth while also avoiding inflicting any trauma on the soft tissues around the treatment area that could hinder your recovery and slow the healing process.
If you have an appointment scheduled for a dental procedure, we recommend stocking your fridge and pantry with some of the following soft foods so that you’ll be prepared to stay nourished during your recovery period.
30 Soft Foods to Eat After a Dental Procedure
After having dental work done, you still need to eat. Your mouth, however, will likely be tender, and you’ll need to take care to eat foods that will not damage your soft tissues, cause inflammation inside your mouth, or put you at risk of getting an infection while you heal. The following foods are recommended after a dental procedure.
- Applesauce
- Bread (soaked in soup with no hard crust)
- Canned fruits like pears and peaches
- Chicken salad (no celery)
- Cottage cheese
- Cream of wheat
- Deli meats
- Eggs
- Fish
- Gelatin (Jell-O)
- Herbal teas (not hot)
- Hummus
- Ice cream
- Mashed fruits like avocados or bananas
- Mashed potatoes
- Meatloaf
- Milkshakes (eaten with a spoon – never use a straw)
- Oatmeal
- Pasta
- Popsicles (be careful not to suck on the popsicle)
- Porridge
- Pudding
- Rice
- Smoothies (but choose fruits without seeds and do not add flax, chia, or any other type of seed)
- Soft cheeses
- Soups (warm, but not hot)
- Tofu
- Tuna salad (no celery)
- Vegetables cooked until they are soft (boiled carrots, mushy peas, soft green beans, etc.)
- Yogurt
Foods to Avoid After a Dental Procedure
Just as there are foods that are advisable to eat after a dental procedure, there are also some foods that you should avoid at all costs because they can damage your soft tissues as they recover, hinder the healing process, and even cause inflammation in your mouth.
- Hard foods
- Acidic foods (such as citrus foods)
- Foods with seeds
- Popcorn, nuts, potato chips, hard crackers, or pretzels
- Spicy foods
- Foods that require a lot of chewing like steak, taffy, or caramels
- Bagels
- Bread with hard crusts
- Cookies
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Carbonated beverages
- Hot drinks
In addition to avoiding these foods, you should also be careful not to drink any beverages using a straw. The vacuuming created inside your mouth when sucking through a straw can easily dislodge any blood clots that have formed, causing complications with your recovery.
Additional Tips for Recovering From Dental Work
In addition to eating the right foods after dental work, these general dental work aftercare instructions will ensure you enjoy a swift and smooth recovery while you heal from your dental procedure:
- Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
- Relieve pain with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Mitigate swelling by applying a cold compress to your cheek in 15-minute intervals.
- Relax with your head elevated to prevent inflammation and fluids from pooling in the recovery area.
- Avoid all strenuous activities for at least 24 hours.
- Do not smoke or use tobacco products of any kind.
- Take all prescription medications exactly as prescribed.
- If bleeding persists, try gently holding a moist (but not hot) black tea bag on the affected area to help a blood clot form.
- You can rinse your mouth with water but do so very gently with warm salt water to avoid dislodging any blood clots.
What to Do If You Think Something Isn’t Right After Dental Work
After most dental procedures, it is normal to experience a little bleeding, a bit of swelling, and some pain, tenderness, or slight discomfort. However, any pain that is not easily managed with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications or a medication prescribed for your recovery is cause for concern. Additionally, any severe swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, dry sockets, dislodged blood clots, or signs of infection should be addressed by our dentist as soon as possible.
If you experience any of these issues after dental work, we recommend contacting our office immediately.
Contact Our West Bend Dentist With Your Follow-Up Questions and Concerns
Our dentist, Dr. Jared Harding and the entire team at Dentistry of West Bend are here for you! If you are currently recovering from a dental procedure and you have any questions about your recovery or aftercare instructions, we always welcome you to contact our office. We will be happy to talk with you about your aftercare recommendations, the symptoms you might be experiencing, or any other concerns you might have. Please feel free to contact our West Bend dental office today.
FAQs
Thin liquids that dissolve quickly in the mouth such as frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelatin and broth. Nectar-like liquids where liquid coats and drips off a spoon such as nectars, milkshakes, cream soup and vegetable juices. Honey-like liquids that flow off a spoon in a ribbon like in yogurt, tomato sauce and honey.
What foods should I avoid after dental surgery? ›
Foods to Avoid After a Dental Procedure
- Hard foods.
- Acidic foods (such as citrus foods)
- Foods with seeds.
- Popcorn, nuts, potato chips, hard crackers, or pretzels.
- Spicy foods.
- Foods that require a lot of chewing like steak, taffy, or caramels.
- Bagels.
- Bread with hard crusts.
Thin liquids that dissolve quickly in the mouth such as frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelatin and broth. Nectar-like liquids where liquid coats and drips off a spoon such as nectars, milkshakes, cream soup and vegetable juices. Honey-like liquids that flow off a spoon in a ribbon like in yogurt, tomato sauce and honey.
Can I eat eggs after tooth extraction? ›
Eggs are an excellent food to eat after oral surgery. They have a high amount of quality protein that is rich in vitamins and minerals. While eggs cooked in numerous ways are generally soft, scrambled eggs are ideal because they are easier to chew and swallow.
Why are you not supposed to eat after the dentist? ›
Eating before the anesthetic wears off could cause you to accidentally bit your tongue. Numbing usually take 1 to 3 hours to go away. Gum Tissue Irritation – It can be common for the gum tissue near the tooth that has been filled to become irritated and sore. This can last for a few days.
Can you eat a banana after dental surgery? ›
Ripe Skinless Fruit. Fruits like bananas, nectarines, peaches, and plums are a healthy choice for your post-surgery diet. Make sure the skin is removed and that the fruit contains no seeds. Mash or puree any fruit that is still hard until it can be eaten without much chewing.
How long after dental surgery can I eat normally? ›
According to experts and dentists, you should not have anything to eat for the first 24 hours post-surgery since you have an open wound in your mouth. Instead, you should only drink liquids and soft foods for the first 24 hours and slowly build yourself back to your regular diet.
What are soft foods if you can't chew? ›
Foods to Eat on the Soft Food Diet
- Applesauce.
- Canned fruit.
- Steamed or soft-cooked vegetables.
- Soft, skinless fruits, like bananas, stone fruits, and melons.
- Baked fruits.
- Salad greens.
Mashed potatoes: Not only are mashed potatoes delicious, but they are easy to make and they really are the perfect post-surgery food. You can smother them with gravy, butter or sour cream. Top the meal with whatever sounds good to you, but make sure there aren't large potato chunks you'll have to chew.
How to stop tooth pain fast? ›
To ease toothache quickly, a person can rinse their mouth using salt water or hydrogen peroxide. They can then apply OTC topical medications or clove oil to numb the affected area and use an ice pack. A person should always consult a dentist if tooth pain persists, regardless of the severity of the pain.
Vigorous rinsing can dislodge the blood clot, cause bleeding of the site to reoccur, and prolong your healing time.
Is ice cream ok after tooth extraction? ›
Unless you have particularly sensitive teeth, ice cream tops of the list of what to eat after tooth extraction, especially in the summer. It's cool and soft, so you can eat it comfortably even when your mouth is tender. Because ice cream is cold, it can help minimize any natural swelling that occurs in the mouth.
Is oatmeal ok after tooth extraction? ›
It is best to wait at least three days after having your wisdom teeth removal before consuming oats due to their slightly chewy and sticky texture. Rolled oats and steel-cut oats are healthier than instant oats, but it's best to go for instant oatmeal because it is the easiest type of oatmeal to chew and swallow.
What happens if you eat 30 minutes after dentist? ›
If your cleaning was followed by a fluoride treatment, you should wait 30 minutes before eating. Otherwise the fluoride can be diluted, making it less effective. The fluoride applied at the end of your cleaning is highly concentrated, so don't waste the opportunity to make sure your teeth are well protected!
What happens if you eat when your mouth is numb? ›
It is wise to avoid drinking or eating anything until after the numbness of the local anesthesia wears off. Doing so too soon can cause an individual to dislodge any dental implants or harm the inside of the mouth.
Why do dentists tell you not to eat? ›
Why? Because it takes some time before the anesthesia wears out, and eating immediately after the procedure may lead to the damage of the soft tissues in your mouth through chewing as you feel no pain. However, you can eat immediately after the procedure for regular dental exams and cleanings.
What promotes healing after dental surgery? ›
Eat healthy foods rich in vitamins A and C, or take supplements. These vitamins promote healing and help you recover faster from oral surgery.
What food Cannot eat after surgery? ›
Avoid fatty foods that are more likely to cause constipation, such as cheeses and full-fat dairy products, French fries, and red meats. Limit your intake of fried food. Drink more liquids, such as water, herbal and decaffeinated teas, and other unsweetened beverages.
What foods are hard to eat after tooth extraction? ›
Hard foods like nuts and popcorn
A little piece of food could easily get lodged into the open area, causing infection of gums and possibly the jaw. They should be avoided until the incision is fully healed.
What is the fastest way to recover from dental surgery? ›
8 Tips for a Speedy Recovery from Oral Surgery
- Protect the Surgical Area.
- Rest.
- Stick to a Soft Diet.
- Stay Hydrated.
- Avoid Alcohol and Tobacco.
- Use a Cold Compress.
- Take Pain Medication.
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene.
