What to eat after a tooth extraction?

After a tooth extraction, it is important to pay attention to what you eat and drink in order to support the healing process and minimise the risk of complications. Here are some guidelines to help you.

• Limit hard and crunchy foods: Focus on soft and liquid foods after the procedure. Hard, crunchy or chewy foods can irritate the wound or even disrupt it. We recommend foods that are easy to chew, such as soups, yoghurts, porridge or smoothies.
• Avoid extreme temperatures: Avoid foods and drinks that are too cold or too hot. Cold foods or drinks can cause painful sensitivity, while hot foods can slow healing and irritate the wound.
• Alcohol and mucosal blood flow: Avoid alcohol and beverages that can increase mucosal blood flow, such as coffee or energy drinks. Alcohol slows healing and increases the risk of bleeding, while stimulating beverages can interfere with wound stabilisation.
• Drink slowly and carefully: Drink fluids slowly and carefully after the procedure. Anaesthesia may cause you to lose full control of your mouth, and fluids may leak out. Avoid sucking or drinking too vigorously.
• Effect of anaesthesia on drinking: After anaesthesia is administered, you may have limited control over your mouth movements. The anaesthesia should wear off within 2 to 5 hours, but in some cases it may take longer depending on the complexity of the procedure. Drink slowly and carefully during this time.