There are several reasons why a patient must undergo a tooth extraction. Wisdom tooth removal is one of the most common tooth extraction procedures. Annually, there are an estimated five million wisdom tooth removal procedures done in the United States. 

It is not just wisdom teeth that may be extracted from one’s mouth. Other teeth that are problematic may also need to be removed. Patients who have teeth that have severe dental carries, badly broken teeth, and teeth with other issues could benefit from an extraction.

If your mouth is sore or your teeth are damaged speaking with a dentist will be helpful. For patients living in the San Diego area, Dr. McBride is a San Diego tooth extraction dentist. Dr. McBride can examine your mouth and advise you on what services and options you have to resolve your oral health issues. If tooth extraction is recommended, learning about the procedure, how to prepare, and what to do after is important. One consideration would be the food you can eat while you are healing.

What Should You Eat After a Tooth Extraction?

Planning ahead when you have a scheduled tooth extraction procedure on your calendar will be immensely helpful. After your tooth extraction, you are likely going to experience a bit of soreness and tenderness. For at least a couple of days after your procedure, your gums will be a little swollen and you are going to have to care for your healing mouth. This means being gentle and supporting the recovery process by consuming the right foods.

The foods you will want to stock up on will be those that are soft. Cold, soft foods are the best because the coolness feels good in the mouth. Ice cream is often associated with tooth extraction and for good reason. Smooth, creamy, soft, and cold ice cream tastes good and isn’t hard to eat. The coolness of the treat works well at minimizing swelling of the gums.

Other tasty options include:

• Cold gazpacho made of fruit or vegetables. Just make sure that the ingredients are thoroughly pureed.
• Yogurt.
• Scrambled eggs.
• Smoothies.

There are some foods to stay away from while you heal including:

• Hot food can burn the mouth and aggravate the area where the tooth was taken.
• Chunky foods that require chewing.
• Spicy food.
• Crunchy food risk particles being broken and getting stuck in your open socket.
• Anything that requires a straw should be avoided. Sucking up your beverage through a straw can be drying and irritating to the open socket.
• Salty foods.
• Acidic foods.

Speak with a San Diego Extraction Dentist Today

Getting plenty of rest and making the task of eating as easy as possible will promote better recovery and less pain. For patients that must have a tooth extraction done, preparation and knowing what to expect can make the process straightforward and uncomplicated. For more information about a tooth extraction procedure in San Deigo, call McBride Dental at (760) 471-1003.  You can make an appointment or have your questions answered by the San Marcos family dentist during a consultation.