For the first day, eat soft, cool or lukewarm food such as curd, khichdi, dal, mashed potato, idli or banana, and chew on the other side. Avoid hot, spicy, crunchy and seedy food, and do not use a straw. Most people return to normal meals within three to five days, sooner for a simple extraction.
Food after an extraction has one job in the first few days: to feed you without disturbing the blood clot in the socket. That clot is what heals the wound. Food that is too hot, too hard or too sharp can loosen it, and that is when trouble starts.
Wait until the numbness has worn off, usually two to four hours. A numb lip, cheek or tongue is very easy to bite badly without noticing. Until then, stick to cool water or a cool, smooth drink sipped from a glass.
It helps to have a proper meal before the appointment. Our pre-surgery instructions ask for a good meal about an hour before, so you are not hungry and light-headed while you wait for the numbness to fade.
Chew on the opposite side. Small spoonfuls are easier than large bites.
As soreness eases, move to soft rice and dal, soft chapati dipped in curry, cooked vegetables, eggs and fish. Keep chewing mostly on the other side and avoid the hard, seedy and very spicy foods for about a week. After a surgical or wisdom tooth extraction, stiffness can make wide bites difficult, so cut food small.
From the second day, a gentle warm salt-water rinse after meals helps clear food from the area. Let the water roll around and fall out of your mouth rather than spitting forcefully.
Do not skip meals because chewing is awkward. Missed meals plus diabetes medicine can drop your sugar. Plan soft, balanced meals in advance and keep monitoring your sugar as usual.
For the rest of the aftercare routine, see our tooth extraction page and the other tooth extraction questions. If eating stays painful beyond the first few days, call 8484 990 678 so we can check the socket.
Kharadi runs late. Reception will tell you honestly whether you need an appointment yet.
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