The soft foods after a tooth extraction are cool or lukewarm foods that need little chewing, such as yoghurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potato, porridge, smooth soup and flaked fish. Below are 100 options grouped by type, plus a printable checklist and the foods to avoid while your mouth heals.
Eating soft foods after tooth extraction helps:
Protect the healing site
Prevent complications like dry socket
Reduce irritation and pain
Provide essential nutrients for faster healing
Looking for a day-by-day plan or answers on noodles and lasagne? See our day-by-day eating plan after a tooth extraction.”
Soft Foods by Recovery Stage
After an extraction, a blood clot forms in the socket to protect it while it heals. Soft foods help keep that clot in place.
First 24 hours: cool, smooth foods only, such as yoghurt, custard and cool soup.
Days 2 to 3: soft, warm (not hot) foods such as scrambled eggs, porridge and soft pasta.
Days 4 to 7: soft meals with a little texture, such as fish pie and shepherd’s pie.
Most people eat normally again within 7 to 10 days. [Dentist to confirm.] For the full plan, see day-by-day eating plan after a tooth extraction.
100 Soft Foods to Eat After Tooth Extraction
Every food below needs little or no chewing. Serve them cool or lukewarm for the first few days, and chew on the side away from the extraction.
Dairy & Creamy Foods
- Natural yoghurt
- Greek yoghurt
- Cottage cheese
- Cream cheese
- Ricotta
- Fromage frais
- Milk
- Milkshake (no straw)
- Kefir
- Scrambled eggs
- Mashed boiled egg
- Soft omelette
- Egg mayonnaise
- Mascarpone
- Mild cheese melted into mash
Grains & Starches
- Porridge
- Weetabix soaked in milk
- Ready Brek
- Rice pudding
- Semolina
- Soft polenta
- Well-soaked couscous
- Soft white bread, crusts off
- Soft pancakes
- Macaroni cheese
- Soft pasta shapes
- Soft noodles
- Gnocchi
- Soft risotto
- Soft lasagne
Protein-Rich Soft Foods
- Flaked salmon
- Poached cod
- Haddock in sauce
- Fish pie
- Tuna mayonnaise
- Finely shredded chicken
- Mince in gravy
- Shepherd’s pie
- Cottage pie
- Soft meatballs in sauce
- Silken tofu
- Hummus
- Smooth peanut butter
- Mild lentil dhal
- Mashed baked beans
Vegetables (Cooked & Soft)
- Mashed potato
- Mashed sweet potato
- Mashed carrots
- Butternut squash
- Mashed swede
- Mushy peas
- Cauliflower cheese
- Soft courgette
- Soft aubergine, no skin
- Well-cooked spinach
- Soft mushrooms
- Soft beetroot
- Vegetable purée
- Mashed avocado
- Soft broccoli tips
Fruits (Soft & Non-Acidic)
- Banana
- Stewed apple
- Apple purée
- Ripe mango
- Ripe pear
- Tinned peaches
- Ripe melon
- Papaya
- Seedless fruit purée
- Seed-free smoothie (eaten with a spoon)
Soups & Light Meals
- Chicken soup
- Vegetable soup
- Leek and potato soup
- Lentil soup
- Mild tomato soup
- Butternut squash soup
- Pea soup
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Bone broth
- Miso soup (lukewarm)
- Custard
- Jelly
- Ice cream, no pieces
- Sorbet
- Frozen yoghurt
- Chocolate mousse
- Trifle, no nuts
- Crème caramel
- Panna cotta
- Sponge pudding soaked in custard
- Soft muffin
- Soft sponge cake
- Soft cheese triangles
- Tzatziki
- Mild guacamole
- Soft pitta, from day 4
- Overnight oats
- Protein shake from a cup
- Soft tortilla wrap, from day 4
- Fruit fool
Foods and Drinks to Avoid
For the first week, avoid:
• Crisps, nuts, seeds and popcorn
• Crusty bread, toast and chewy sweets
• Spicy or acidic food
• Very hot food and drinks
• Alcohol and fizzy drinks
• Straws, as the suction can dislodge the blood clot
Eat slowly, chew on the opposite side and sip water from a glass. See the full list of foods to avoid after a tooth extraction.
Soft Foods FAQs
What soft foods can I eat after dental surgery?
Choose foods that need little or no chewing and are served cool or lukewarm: yoghurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potato, porridge, smooth soup, flaked fish and custard. The same list works after a tooth extraction, gum surgery or an implant.
What are good soft snacks after a tooth extraction?
Yoghurt or fromage frais pots, apple purée, mashed banana, smooth hummus, custard, jelly and a seed-free smoothie eaten with a spoon. Avoid crisps and nuts for at least a week.
What can I eat for breakfast after a tooth extraction?
Porridge or Weetabix soaked until soft, scrambled eggs, Greek yoghurt with mashed banana, or soft pancakes. Let everything cool to lukewarm for the first day or two.
What cold soft foods can I eat after dental surgery?
Yoghurt, ice cream without nuts or pieces, sorbet, jelly, custard, chilled smoothies eaten with a spoon and cold apple purée. Cool foods can be soothing in the first 24 hours.
How long should I eat soft foods after a tooth extraction?
Usually for 3 to 7 days, then add firmer foods gradually. Most people return to their normal diet within 7 to 10 days.
Can I eat porridge after wisdom tooth removal?
Yes. Make it smooth, let it cool to lukewarm and eat it from a spoon. Rinse gently afterwards if your dentist has advised salt-water rinses.
Final Thoughts
Need Advice After an Extraction? Contact iCare Dental, Royal Docks
Recovering from a tooth extraction does not mean giving up taste or nutrition. With these 100 soft foods you can eat well while your mouth heals. If you have unusual pain, swelling or bleeding, contact the iCare Dental team at Gateway Tower, Royal Docks, E16, or book an emergency dental appointment.
