Nutrition also helps your recovery
One of the typical questions my patients ask me is what to eat after a tooth extraction.As I always say, the extraction is a delicate surgical act, which involves work on both the bone and the gum: it is therefore necessary to strictly follow the dentist’s instructions to avoid potential problems. when can i eat rice after wisdom teeth removal?
Diet plays a very important role both in avoiding post-surgery trauma and in the tissue healing process.
What can you eat after a tooth extraction
Your diet, especially on the first day after surgery, should be semi -liquid and cold .
You absolutely have to eat, but choose foods that are easy to chew and cold : a nice ice cream is ideal, for example.
The heat could in fact irritate the injured gum, and increase the discomfort after extraction.
Also avoid foods that are crunchy or that can shatter: if small pieces of food get stuck in the wound they could give you infection.
Perfect use of fruit and vegetables : foods rich in vitamins are useful for promoting the reparative process. You can have smoothies or cold soups.
Meat is fine too, maybe choose for example a beef medallion that is soft and easy to chew.
What you must NOT do after a tooth extraction
Do not drink alcohol (their action can slow down the natural healing process)
Do not smoke or chew tobacco (if you can, avoid for at least a week, although clearly it is better if you quit altogether!)
Do not touch the wound with your hands, external bacteria can cause serious infections
Do not eat spicy foods: pepper or hot pepper inevitably irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth.
brush your teeth well but gently: avoid, for example, toothbrushes with stiff bristles
Chewing crunchy foods: hard or crumbling foods can create larger or smaller particles that further injure the extraction area. Small pieces that get stuck in the post extraction socket can be a problem.
Do not take drugs on your own : always ask your dentist what to take
Avoid major physical exertion (eg gym) for at least three days
Avoid exposing yourself to the sun during the hottest hours of the day
You do NOT have to rinse or spit all the time, you would break the clot with the risk of having a hemorrhage.
Avoid blowing your nose vigorously especially with tooth extractions in the upper arch
Don’t eat chewy or sticky foods that can hurt you even inadvertently
How long does it take for the gum to heal after an extraction?
The tissues of the mouth have an enormous regenerative potential: keep in mind that the clot is formed after a correct extraction within a few minutes.
In my studio we accelerate this process using the diode laser , which coagulates and biostimulates.
Keep in mind that within a few days you already start to have an initial repair.
After the first week the extraction hole will already be in good condition. We will have perfect healing within a month.
Clearly there are many variables in the field:
if you smoke, healing will be slower and more painful
if the extraction was complex it may take a few more days
if you take certain medications (eg bisphosphonates ) or have certain diseases (eg diabetes ) the healing may be longer.
Should antibiotics be taken when a tooth is removed?
Usually no. It’s a doctor’s choice: follow his instructions by him carefully.
Modern guidelines tend to minimize the administration of antibiotics: they will therefore be prescribed only if there is a major infection or in the presence of other diseases where antibiotic coverage is needed.
Definitely do not do your own thing : follow the instructions of your dentist ALWAYS.
How many days does it hurt after removing a tooth?
It is an important but variable fact. Depend on:
how complex was the extraction
whether there was an acute or chronic infectious process
the state of health of the patient
whether it was a wisdom tooth or an impacted tooth
Usually, however, in 3 days there is a nice relief. Massimo in 7 days you are calm (unless there are special events and situations, I will tell you)
How to avoid an infection after tooth extraction?
Maximum attention to hygiene.
You can and should wash your mouth well, perhaps with caution in the area of the surgery and using soft brushes.Collectors and disinfectant gels can help but the dentist prescribes them: chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, essential oils. The colleague will choose the ideal disinfectant drug for you.
