Eating the right foods can help accelerate healing of your restoration and avoid unnecessary discomfort, or worse, damage to your newly-restored tooth. It’s understandable that you’d be worried about what you can eat after a root canal.

Being prepared with the following dietary guidelines can help your root canal heal as fast as
possible!

Avoid Hard, Sticky, or Chewy Foods

After getting your root canal done, you’ll want to avoid eating anything until the numbness
from your procedure fully wears off. When you do reach for food, try to chew on the opposite side of your mouth while your restoration is healing.

Make note to avoid foods that are hard, sticky, or chewy for at least the first few days. These don’t just include sweet foods like gum or candy. Even hard breads and some fresh foods such as raw apples and carrots should be avoided.

Ice and nuts are also off-limits while your tooth is healing. Research shows that food can
influence the possibility of an infection after root canal therapy, so eating the right foods
absolutely helps [1]!

Exercise Caution with Foods That Contribute to Tooth Sensitivity

Some people may experience some tooth sensitivity following root canal therapy.

If you have a history of tooth sensitivity, your dentist might have you avoid overly hot, cold, spicy, or sweet foods. These are all foods that have the potential to bother your new
restoration while it’s healing.

If you experience extreme sensitivity when eating after your root canal procedure, contact your dentist to follow up with your discomfort.

Great Soft Foods You Can Enjoy

Following your root canal procedure, it’s a good idea to stick with softer foods. Eating soft foods can give your mouth time to heal and avoid any potential damage to your tooth.

These foods could include:

 Protein in the form of fish, eggs, tofu, oats, or beans
 Fruits such as banana, mangoes, and peaches
 Snacks such as applesauce, yogurt, or smoothies

You can plan ahead of time to ensure you have plenty of foods available in your home or at
work to eat so you’re not tempted to eat off-limits foods while your smile is healing.

Remember to contact your dentist should you have any questions after your root canal or if
you’re not sure what you’re experiencing is normal. Severe pain, swelling, or bleeding after
your appointment may require additional medical attention [2].

When it comes to healing after a root canal procedure, what you can eat can make a big
difference. Simply by exercising caution after your procedure when eating, you can avoid pain,
sensitivity, and speed up the healing process!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4601489/
2. https://www.aae.org/patients/your-office-visit/post-treatment-care/

The post What Can You Eat After a Root Canal? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Never start the day without breakfast! For this meal, you’ve got several options. You can enjoy warm oatmeal with apples, cinnamon, and honey to wake up your taste buds. You may also choose to eat yogurt with some soft fruit such as oranges or banana in it. If you’re more of a hearty breakfast person, fried, scrambled, or hard-boiled eggs back a protein punch! You can also opt for pancakes—just be sure they’re soft enough for you to chew.

For Lunch: Soft Breads, Soup, Smoothies

As lunchtime approaches, reach for things like soft breads or soup. A tuna fish sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich should be easy enough to chew, but do your best to avoid meats, as they can be difficult to chew with your stitches. An exception here would be chicken soup—the meat should be soft enough to eat with minimal chewing. Smoothies are also an excellent option and can pack vital nutrients for healing! Try spinach, banana, and frozen berries blended with milk or yogurt to soothe your sore mouth.

For Snack: Avocado, Banana, Applesauce

There are plenty of fruits to eat for a snack in the afternoon or really anytime throughout the day. Avocados are full of healthy fats and are soft and perfect for easy consumption. Ripened bananas are an easy to-go snack and are mushy enough to require almost no chewing at all! Applesauce can feel cool and soothing on your mouth and is easy to eat after you’ve gotten your wisdom teeth out.

For Dinner: Pasta, Fish, Mashed Potatoes

Pasta such as macaroni and cheese is perfect when well-cooked for your post wisdom teeth removal diet. You may also choose to eat fish, as it’s usually soft enough to eat. Be sure to stay away from any fresh fish that may still contain bones, as these can poke and injure your surgical site. Mashed potatoes are also a great choice. For more plant-based options, try beans, steamed spinach, and tofu with your dinner!

For Dessert: Ice Cream and Pudding

Don’t forget about dessert! These cool foods can help stop swelling in your mouth and be a treat for after your surgery. Grab your favorite ice cream at the store and put pudding in the fridge or freezer to cool before eating. Your mouth will thank you!

Getting your wisdom teeth removed can be uncomfortable, but the procedure is simple and your mouth will easily heal within a few days. By having these soft foods at home, you can ensure that you relax, heal, and have plenty of food choices so you don’t have to go hungry. Choose these soft foods after wisdom tooth removal!

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