What to eat after taking out your tooth

 
Upon extraction of a tooth, there is an open wound with a defect in the gum left behind where the tooth was. In case it was a difficult extraction, there might be some bone damage. You should take care not to injure the area further. For the first hour or so after extraction, you should bite hard on the cotton plug that the dentist would have placed on the wound. This will prevent excessive bleeding from the wound and cause a blood clot to form. For the next few hours you must take only cold liquids and preferably on the other side of the mouth. After this, for a couple of days it is best to take a soft diet and not to chew on the side of the extracted tooth. By this time, the wound would have healed and you can gradually get back to your normal diet. If any sutures have been placed, you should remember to go back to your dentist to have them removed. Take any medication as prescribed by the dentist. _Do not self medicate_.