After a tooth extraction, it is best to avoid eating solid foods immediately and stick to a soft or liquid diet for the first 24 hours to allow the extraction site to start healing properly. You can begin eating soft foods like soups, yogurt, pudding, mashed potatoes, and smoothies during this period. From about days 2 to 7 post-extraction, you may gradually introduce slightly more solid foods that require little or no chewing, such as scrambled eggs, cooked pasta, and soft fruits, while still avoiding hard, crunchy, or spicy foods. After about a week, as healing progresses and with confirmation from your dentist or oral surgeon, you can start adding more solid foods back into your diet, but continue to chew on the opposite side of the extraction site to avoid pressure there. Avoid drinking with straws and refrain from very hot, cold, spicy, or acidic foods as these can irritate the healing area. Overall, follow your dentist's instructions and listen to your body's comfort level to prevent complications.
