Sometimes, a tooth is too badly decayed, broken down or has lost its support from surrounding tissues and should be extracted. Just prior to the extraction, your dentist will review instructions for you to follow -- including a diet -- after the procedure. However, how long do you need to wait until you can eat after an extraction? To know this, you should know what happens at each stage following an extraction.
Immediately After Extraction
Right after your tooth has been pulled, the dentist will have you bite down on gauze to keep bleeding to a minimum and help a blood clot form to aid healing. Your dentist may advise you to leave the gauze in place for 30 minutes. Do not eat or drink anything at this time, and do not rinse your mouth; these activities could displace the blood clot that is essential to healing.
First 24 Hours
The day following extraction, you will have some pain and swelling in the mouth. Eat soft, pureed foods. If you had multiple teeth extracted, consume a liquid diet of soups, milk shakes and other cold drinks. Do not drink hot beverages and avoid caffeinated drinks. Do not drink using a straw during this time. Rinse your mouth only after the first 24 hours. These measures help preserve the blood clot crucial to healing.
After the First Day
Eat semi-solid foods if you can tolerate them. Prescription painkillers can mask pain from injury caused by sharp pieces of food or hard foods; if possible, avoid hard foods until you no longer take medication. Avoid hot, spicy foods, which can irritate the socket area or cause injury in the area of extraction. If sutures were placed, you may have to chew on the side not involved with the extraction until they are removed or dissolved, depending on the type of suture used. If you had a wisdom tooth extracted, the pain and swelling can be prolonged. Healing also may take much longer.
Balanced Diet
Eat a well-balanced diet including all food groups. This keeps your nutritional level up while you heal after your extraction. Soups, pureed fruits and vegetables, milkshakes, yogurt, cold or room temperature well-cooked soft foods are all helpful in trying to achieve that balance.
