As your Scarborough dentist, my goal is to help patients keep their natural teeth for a lifetime. I encourage them to schedule preventive dental exams and checkups twice yearly and practice good oral hygiene at home.
Unfortunately, I am sometimes forced to recommend a tooth extraction to preserve a patient’s oral health. Whether from an infection, gum disease, or crowding, extracting a tooth is a straightforward dental procedure.
So, once a tooth has been extracted, what do I tell my patients to eat, and what are some other tips for tooth extraction aftercare?
Eating after an Extraction
After I remove a tooth, I recommend eating soft foods for the first few days. Some good foods to eat include:
- Scrambled eggs
- Yogurt
- Pudding
- Pasta
Avoid hard and crunchy foods after an extraction, including:
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Chips
Additional Tips for Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Before sending my patients home after an extraction, I talk to them about these aftercare tips:
- Rest — I recommend rest and relaxation for the remainder of the day.
- Swelling — I tell my patients to expect some swelling but recommend an ice pack on their face in 20-minute intervals. This can help with discomfort as well.
- Medication — If I prescribe antibiotics, I encourage my patients to take all of them as directed. For discomfort, I recommend taking over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Bleeding — It’s normal for saliva to be red for the first 24 hours after an extraction, but if there is more severe bleeding, I urge my patients to call me.
- Mouth care — I tell my patients to avoid spitting, rinsing, or using a straw. This will allow the blood clot to form correctly.
- Smoking — To avoid an infection, I advise my patients to avoid smoking after an extraction, and I encourage them to quit altogether.
Need a Dentist in Scarborough, ON?
If you or a loved one needs a tooth extraction in Scarborough or the surrounding area, consider the expert dental team at Dentistry at Alton Towers. If possible, I will save your natural tooth, but if extraction is the best option, I provide gentle treatment.
Call my dental office at (416) 366-8188 to schedule an appointment or consultation.