What to eat after a tooth extraction
Quick answer
What can I eat after having a tooth removed?
For the first 24 hours, stick to soft, cool or lukewarm food: yoghurt, soup (not hot), scrambled eggs, mashed potato, porridge, pasta and smoothies eaten with a spoon.
Chew on the other side, and avoid hot drinks, alcohol, straws and crunchy or crumbly food such as crisps, nuts and seeded bread. Most people return to normal eating within a few days, as advised by York House Dental Practice in West Byfleet.
What you need to know
The blood clot in the socket needs protecting while it forms. Sucking through a straw, very hot food and small hard crumbs can dislodge it and lead to dry socket.
Wait until the anaesthetic has worn off before eating, so you do not bite your cheek or tongue. Keep drinking water to stay hydrated. Gentle warm salt-water rinses after meals can start the day after the extraction if we have advised it.
After wisdom tooth or surgical extractions, soft food may be needed for a little longer. See extraction aftercare, does an extraction hurt and tooth extractions.
Last reviewed: by Dr Kaveet Patel, Principal Dentist
