I had a tooth extracted today (last tooth in the back on the bottom right). The one directly above it (last tooth in the back, top right) was extracted last Weds. I had two bad toothaches- and haven't eaten much besides yogurt and ice cream for the past week. I've lost 6 lbs and I'm HUNGRY.

Basically, I couldn't see the hole from the previous extraction- but this one, being on the bottom, is visible... and making me scared to eat. The hole looks enormous and bloody- not really bleeding, maybe a little here and there- I kept the gauze on for the first hour after the extraction, per the dentist's instructions... no stitches. It just looks gross as hell. And I feel some pressure in that area, but no real pain yet (taking 600 mg ibuprofen every 6 hrs). And I'm afraid to eat and screw up the healing of it, and end up with dry socket... I'm a smoker, and plan on following the dentists' instructions to not smoke for 24 hrs after the extraction (it's been almost 8 already, and I'm getting cranky! Lol). I'm terrified of dry socket.

All I want is some chocolate ice cream, or some yogurt... is it safe to eat at this point? The extraction was done at noon today, and it's now 7:30pm. Thanks for your help!

Definitely EAT! You can eat pretty much anything just chew on the left side. Don't rinse your mouth until tomorrow though so you don't lose the clot. Don't drink anything using a straw either.

Since you have no stitches, you take on the risk of getting food lodged in there. A cold malt is about your best bet for now but yogurt is Ok too. Tomorrow, still something soft, scrambled eggs or mash potatoes, but remember, to chew on the other side. I hope this helps, and good luck.

I had the same tooth on the left side pulled a few years ago. The dentist told me that eating was fine as long as I didn't do anything like drinking through a straw or slurping soup. He also told me to avoid 'sharp' foods, like chips that could poke me or get lodged in the fresh hole.

Just don't do anything that creates suction and try to avoid crunchy foods for now, and you should be fine. Yogurt will be fine. So will pasta, soup (as long as you're careful not to slurp), soggy cereal, or pretty much anything that doesn't require a lot of heavy chewing.

Eat a liquid product called Nutrament. I was told about that product some 40 years ago from an orl surgeon when I had to have 4 extracted in a hospital setting under general asestheshia.

Also, NO coffee or chocolate until it heals and no slurping from straws.