when can i eat chips after a tooth extraction

Hello! After a tooth extraction, it's crucial to let the affected area heal without disturbance. Since chips are hard and crunchy, they can irritate or harm the extraction site. It is generally recommended to wait until the extraction has healed before eating chips. Healing time can vary from person to person, but it usually takes 7-10 days for the initial healing process.

Once the extraction site no longer feels sensitive, it's a decent gauge that you can return to a normal diet. Generally, this means the gum tissue has covered the extraction site and the swelling has completely subsided. However, it's always best to follow the advice of your dentist or oral surgeon, who can examine your mouth and assess your healing progress.

After a tooth extraction, it's best to consume soft, easy-to-chew foods. You can try yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and soups. Remember to keep your meals at a lukewarm temperature, as extreme cold or hot foods could exacerbate the discomfort. Hydrate with water or non-acidic, non-alcoholic beverages too.

Absolutely, avoid smoking, drinking alcohol and using a straw for drinking as all of these behaviours can disrupt the essential blood clot formation at the extraction site, potentially leading to complications like dry socket. Also, try not to poke at the extraction site with your tongue or fingers.