After a tooth extraction, proper care, especially a suitable diet, greatly impacts the speed of recovery and prevents complications. So, “what to eat after tooth extraction” and what to avoid? Let’s explore the detailed guidelines below.
The Importance of Nutrition After Tooth Extraction
Nutrition plays a crucial role in the healing process of all wounds, including those after tooth extraction. Specifically:
- Providing energy: The body needs energy to perform tissue repair and fight inflammation.
- Boosting the immune system: Nutrients help the immune system function effectively, reducing the risk of infection.
- Tissue regeneration: Proteins, vitamins, and minerals directly participate in cell regeneration, forming new tissue, and helping the extraction site heal faster.
Foods to Eat After Tooth Extraction
Within the First 24 Hours:
- what to eat after tooth extraction – Soft, easy-to-swallow foods: Thin porridge, pureed soups, fruit smoothies, juices, yogurt, ice cream. Eat in small amounts, not too much at once.
- Cool, cold foods: Help reduce pain and swelling temporarily, providing a soothing effect.
“what to eat after tooth extraction” – eat soft foods like porridge, soup, smoothies, etc.
In the Following Days:
- Continue with soft foods: Thicker porridge, soups with minced meat, boiled/steamed eggs, soft fish, well-cooked vegetables.
- Add nutritious foods: Milk, cheese, yogurt, vitamin C-rich juices… These foods provide nutrients that enhance immunity and support wound healing.
“What to eat after tooth extraction” – you can eat steamed fish
When the Wound Starts to Heal (3-7 days):
- Gradually shift to thicker foods: Follow your doctor’s instructions, you can start eating soft rice, minced meat, stews…
- Prioritize healing foods: Foods rich in protein, vitamins (A, C, K), and zinc are encouraged to speed up the healing process.
“what to eat after tooth extraction” – add foods rich in vitamins A, C, K
Foods to Avoid After Tooth Extraction
“What to eat after tooth extraction” – Avoid in the Initial Stage
- Hard, chewy foods: Biscuits, nuts, hard candies… can adversely affect the wound, cause stitches to come loose or cause bleeding.
- Spicy hot foods: Can irritate the wound, causing more pain.
- Carbonated, alcoholic drinks: Affect blood clotting, hinder the healing process.
“What to eat after tooth extraction” – Avoid When Not Fully Healed (consult your doctor)
- Sticky foods: Rice cakes, sticky sweets that can cling to teeth, increasing infection risk due to difficulty cleaning.
- Small seed foods: Sesame, pomegranate seeds… can get stuck in the extraction site, causing inflammation.
Important Notes
- Consult your doctor: Especially for complicated extractions or those with underlying health conditions.
- Drink plenty of water: Water, broth, seedless juices are good for recovery.
- Maintain oral hygiene: Rinse with saline solution, brush teeth gently as directed.
- Eat small, frequent meals: To avoid putting pressure on the wound, making digestion easier.
Frequently Asked Questions About “What to Eat After Tooth Extraction”
Here are 5 questions related to “what to eat after tooth extraction” and appropriate answers:
How long after extraction can I eat?
- In the first 2-4 hours, avoid eating anything. Instead, you can drink water or coconut water.
- After this period, you can eat soft, liquid, easy-to-swallow foods like thin porridge, yogurt, pureed soups…
- For simple extractions, after about 24 hours, you can eat almost normally, just avoid chewing on the extraction side.
Can I eat porridge after wisdom tooth extraction?
- “What to eat after tooth extraction” – Porridge is an ideal food post-extraction because it’s soft, easy to swallow, and nutritious.
- Especially in the first days after wisdom tooth extraction, thin porridge, minced meat porridge… ensure nutrition without putting pressure on the wound.
Can I drink milk after tooth extraction?
- “What to eat after tooth extraction” – Not only can you drink milk, but it is also recommended.
- Milk and dairy products like yogurt and cheese contain calcium, protein, and vitamin D, which are very good for healing and boosting immunity.
- Choose unsweetened or low-sugar milk, preferably cold milk.
What should be avoided after extraction to heal quickly?
- Hard, chewy foods: Cause injury to the extraction site.
- Spicy hot foods: Increase the risk of infection.
- Sticky foods: Difficult to clean, easy to cause tooth decay.
- Carbonated, alcoholic drinks: Hinder the body’s recovery process.
How long does it take for the wound to heal after extraction?
- The healing time after extraction depends on many factors: the type of tooth, the difficulty of the procedure, the patient’s health…
- Typically, for simple extractions, the wound starts to heal after 1-2 weeks.
- For safety, follow your doctor’s check-up schedule to monitor the healing process.
Scientific Evidence Related to “What to Eat After Tooth Extraction”
- Soft, easily digestible diet:
- Journal of International Dental Research: Studies show that eating soft foods after extraction reduces pain and swelling more effectively than eating hard foods.
- Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Soft foods reduce the risk of gum injury and damage to the extraction site, promoting healing.
- Supplementing with nutritious foods:
- Journal of Nutrition: Adequate supply of vitamins and minerals (vitamins A, C, K, zinc) boosts the immune system, supports tissue regeneration, and accelerates healing.
- National Academy of Medicine: Protein plays a crucial role in tissue repair, essential for wound healing post-extraction.
- Drinking plenty of water:
- Journal of the American Dental Association: Keeping the body hydrated reduces the risk of dry mouth, aids food digestion, and promotes healing.
- Mayo Clinic: Drinking water, broth, and seedless fruit juices helps cleanse the body and eliminate toxins.
“what to eat after tooth extraction” – A proper diet after tooth extraction is crucial for the healing outcome. Refer to the list of foods to eat and avoid after extraction above to create a suitable menu that helps the wound heal quickly and limits complications.
References:
https://www.wilsonparkdental.com/what-to-eat-after-a-tooth-extraction/
https://greenvillefamilydentistrysc.com/what-to-eat-after-tooth-extraction/
Kiểm Duyệt Nội Dung
More than 10 years of marketing communications experience in the medical and health field.
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