# Eating after having a tooth pulled? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-after-having-a-tooth-pulled/372374 "2006-09-12T04:24:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-after-having-a-tooth-pulled/372374/1 "2006-09-12T04:24:53Z")
I’ve always thought you shouldn’t eat for a few hours after having a tooth yanked out. Well, I got one pulled this afternoon and the instructions said “It is very important that you eat a good meal after having a tooth extraction.” I double checked to make sure I didn’t read it wrong, but I read it right. When did this change, or has it always been this way? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-after-having-a-tooth-pulled/372374/2 "2006-09-12T04:37:32Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] I’ve always thought you shouldn’t eat for a few hours after having a tooth yanked out. Well, I got one pulled this afternoon and the instructions said “It is very important that you eat a good meal after having a tooth extraction.” I double checked to make sure I didn’t read it wrong, but I read it right. When did this change, or has it always been this way? [/QUOTE] The big thing is not to suck anything through a straw, no milkshakes, no sodas, no cigerattes. The vacuum in your mouth can pull the clot out. As for eating…I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-after-having-a-tooth-pulled/372374/3 "2006-09-12T04:44:05Z")
**Don’t** eat rice. It’ll get stuck in the hole! I don’t think I’d be _able_ to eat after a tooth extraction. Maybe drink down one of those instant breakfast milkshake things, to get some nutrition in me, but actual chewing? I find it odd that they’re recommending it, but then, I’m not a dentist. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-after-having-a-tooth-pulled/372374/4 "2006-09-12T04:47:28Z")
Actually, I have absolutely no pain and eat fine, but yeah, I didn’t eat anything small or spicy either. It was just weird because I have always heard you shouldn’t eat anything for a few hours afterwards. I even think I’ve always heard that you should eat anything for 12 hours afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-after-having-a-tooth-pulled/372374/5 "2006-09-12T04:49:24Z")
No, you’re supposed to stick with a LIQUID diet for 12 hours afterwards. The next day, then you can go with soft foods, like mashed potatos and applesauce. ---
**Author:** ![toadbriar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@toadbriar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadbriar)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-after-having-a-tooth-pulled/372374/6 "2006-09-12T14:56:35Z")
Yeah, “dry socket” is what occurs if you knock loose the scab that forms over the healing tooth hole. Considering the hole goes right down into the bone of your jaw, it’s important to keep infection out of there. After all, who wants to have abscess juice trickling into their mouth all the time? If you lose the scab, they’ve got to keep re-packing your tooth-hole with gauze. It’s easy enough to chew on the other side of your mouth for a while, & using a straw or, God forbid, brushing the toothless gap, need to be avoided for a few days (a week? it’s been a while). ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-after-having-a-tooth-pulled/372374/7 "2006-09-13T10:02:26Z")
Regardless of eating, rinse your mouth out with slightly warm salty water - do it frequently at least once an hour - this is extremely important - antibiotics don’t get into bone, so if you get an infection, it just stays put For some reason salt water promotes healing, and reduces the chance of infection. If you get an infection in the socket, then you could land up with constant pain. I know, I have had to live with it for 13 years. Doctors send you to dentists, and dentists put you on anti epilepsy drugs, dig around ineffectually and freeze your nerve - then they give up. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-after-having-a-tooth-pulled/372374/8 "2006-09-13T10:52:02Z")
[QUOTE=Antigen] **Don’t** eat rice. It’ll get stuck in the hole! I don’t think I’d be _able_ to eat after a tooth extraction. Maybe drink down one of those instant breakfast milkshake things, to get some nutrition in me, but actual chewing? I find it odd that they’re recommending it, but then, I’m not a dentist. [/QUOTE] I’ve had quite a bit of dental work done. Those breakfast milk mixes are pretty good for post dental surgery, as are many thin soups, and gelatin. And pudding. Caramels and jerky are RIGHT out.