Pulling a tooth is often necessary for adulthood. After the tooth removal process eats soft foods, such as soup, pudding, yogurt, after the tooth extraction. Avoid spicy food and alcohol too. Gradually add solid foods as you heal. If you are planning a tooth extraction, plan ahead for your meals before pulling a tooth. Also, get rid of hard foods such as grains and avoid using a straw.
Reasons for Pulling a Tooth
Although you are supposed to keep and protect your teeth for a lifetime, certain conditions may warrant your tooth to be extracted as the case may be. A common reason is avulsed tooth (trauma) or decays tooth that needs to be repaired. Other possible causes include:
- teeth crowding
- Tooth infection
- Periodontal (Gum) Disease.
- Risk of infection in a particular tooth may be reason enough to pull a tooth (for example, if you are receiving chemotherapy or are having an organ transplant).
What to Tell Your Dentist Before Removing Your Tooth
Although tooth removal is generally safe, the procedure may put your gum tissue at risk of infection. Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics for you to use before and after tooth extraction to prevent severe infection or harmful bacteria. Before pulling a tooth let your dentist know about your past medical history, supplements, and the medications you normally use, and if you have one of these conditions:
- Congenital heart defect
- liver problem
- hip replacement
- Weakened immune system
- And bacterial endocarditis
If you need to have a tooth extraction performed, you can visit trusted dental practitioners like Joondanna Family Dental and others in your community. Doing so lets you undergo proper dental and health assessments before getting the procedure done. The dentist can also give you advice to improve the extraction site's healing. This may include proper pain management, wound care, and the appropriate foods to eat.
Here are some of the best delicious foods that will make you heal quickly after pulling a tooth!
Blended Soups
Soups offer great nutrients and fluid to keep you hydrated after pulling a tooth. Milk or yogurt-based soups are excellent sources of calcium that will aid your recovery. Since your mouth may still be numb and the wound is very tender, eat your blended soup cold.
You should blend your soup in a blender to remove any chunks. You can puree your choice or try something like pumpkin, butternut, black bean, and tomato.
Broth
Broths are delicious soups made from cooking vegetables, fish, or meat with herbs. It is usually strained before serving. It contains Vitamins, minerals and lots of liquid – that you will need after pulling a tooth.
Chicken broth is particularly helpful. It contains an anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. It’s good for you when you are weak and when healing from surgery.
Bone broth, made from boiling animal bones and connective tissues, is reputedly very healthful. It comprises of protein and minerals and even an antioxidant.
Mashed Potatoes
If you want something solid, you can try mashed potatoes. They contain vitamin and potassium that will rebuild your bone and produce good healthy cells after pulling a tooth. Eat them warm, your body needs a reasonable amount of calories to make the extraction site heal quickly.
Scrambled Eggs
Eggs are excellent combinations of protein, whole fats, and other nutrients. You can get omega-3 is good for healing the tissue and low in calories as well. This contains healthy fat like avocado or olive and coconut.
Scramble eggs must be served lukewarm and are easy to chew. Unlike fried or boiled eggs can be a bit harder for your new would and may affect the extraction site.
Greek Yogurt
Try Greek yogurt for a cool treat that is good for you. It is high in protein, calcium, and zinc. This is the ingredient that you need for healing. Greek yogurt is approved over usual yogurt because it contains 40% less sugar and doubles the protein. You may also get yogurt to cool and soothe sore teeth and jaws.
For instance, you can make homemade yogurt ice cream and eat it during snack time. Cold foods help constrict the blood vessels to prevent blood from pooling at the extraction site. This reduces bleeding, pain, and swelling. Greek yogurt is also a healthy alternative to plain ice cream. This is due to its low calorie and sugar content.
Applesauce
The fruit is a food that you need for healing but may find difficult to chew. Try applesauce for a treat that is high in vitamin C that helps wounds heal.
If you make your own, chop the skin very finely and then puree the apples. The skin contains most of the good nutrients, but with care, you can turn the entire apple into a healthy treat. Avoid fruit juices because they generally have a lot of added sugar and calories.
Mashed Bananas
Mashup some bananas to give you a wide variety of vitamins and minerals needed for healing. They are high in calories, so go easy on them.
You can make a frozen treat recipe. Freeze three to four bananas overnight, cut into slices, and blend with milk or almond milk. Blend to a smooth consistency. This is a better treat than ice cream because it is very low in sugar.
Mashed bananas can be used for your oatmeal and fruit shake recipes, too. You can blend it with applesauce and yogurt to make a healthy smoothie. Freezing this smoothie into ice cream is also a good idea. These are just some of the things you can make with mashed bananas.
Avocados
Avocados are a unique fruit because they are low in carbs and high in whole fats. They also contain vitamin C and potassium which aid in the healing process. It is very soft when ripe and can be quickly mashed. Avoid unripe ones because it is hard to chew. If they are still too hard to chew.
Avocados include oleic acid. This is a normal fat that promotes healing and has antifungal and antibacterial properties that reduce harmful bacteria. Eat and relax. Presently skip the veggies and tortilla chips!
Salmon
If you want to eat meat, opt for salmon instead of chewy chicken or beef. Salmon is soft and easy to consume and is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids which your body needed to repair the tissue and heal up. Also, it contains anti-inflammatory properties and is good for you if your body doesn't get adequate omega-3 fatty acids, so enjoy your salmon!
Hummus
Hummus is a mixture of chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon, and garlic. It is easy to prepare and is available in the various supermarket.
Hummus is high in healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and protein. As will all know, all these are very essential to the healing of the gum tissue. Hummus is usually consumed as a dip, but you can skip the veggies and pita bread until your wound heals up.
Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is super healthy nutrients that help you heal and rebuild your bone. Also, it’s high in protein that heals sore jaws and wound extraction. You can add cottage cheese to many foods like mashed bananas, scrambled eggs, and smoothies to add more protein without many calories.
You can include cottage cheese in any meal or snack of the day. It’s a versatile food ingredient for your favorite recipes and can even be eaten as a standalone. Try making an omelet sprinkled with cottage cheese for breakfast. Then, pair it with milk or juice for happy teeth and stomach.
Conclusion
Prepare ahead for your soft or liquid meal that will help you recover from the tooth extraction. Avoid every food that is too hard and too hot that may hunt the extraction site and break your stitches.
Don't use a straw after pulling a tooth. You can suck hard enough to create a dry socket, a very painful condition. Eat a reasonable number of calories and pamper yourself with warm drinks and soups. You’ll be up and back again with your day to day activities.
RELATED READING
Source
- College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, department of surgery: "Dental Extraction."
- American Dental Association: "Tooth Extractions."
- Kaiser Permanente: "Tooth Extraction for Gum Disease."
- WebMD Medical Reference: "Tooth Extraction for Gum Disease."
Isreal olabanji a dental assistant and public health professionals and has years of experience in assisting the dentist with all sorts of dental issues.
We regularly post timely and trustworthy medical information and news on Fitness, Dental care, Recipes, Child health, obstetrics, and more.
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The content is intended to augment, not replace, information provided by your clinician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Reading this information does not create or replace a doctor-patient relationship or consultation. If required, please contact your doctor or other health care provider to assist you to interpret any of this information, or in applying the information to your individual needs.