“How long after my extraction stitches are removed can I drink or eat?”

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Dentist Questions Tooth extraction

“How long after my extraction stitches are removed can I drink or eat?”

My dentist will be removing my extraction stitches tomorrow. The stitch is around my molar teeth. When will it be okay to drink or eat again?

32 Answers

How long does the numbness last after tooth extraction?

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**Dr. May Louie** Dentist La Puente, CA · Accepted Answer

Dr. May Louie Dentist La Puente, CA

After stitch removal, give yourself another week and you'll be able to eat and drink normally. If you still feel tender, restrict eating to the opposite side until the affected side is more healed over if it takes your body more time to heal.

**Dr. Vito Foto** Dentist Bronxville, NY · Accepted Answer

Dr. Vito Foto Dentist Bronxville, NY

Usually the next day

**Dr. Jesus Sojo** Dentist Oldsmar, FL · Accepted Answer

Dr. Jesus Sojo Dentist Oldsmar, FL

Generally you should be able to eat or drink favoring the side opposite to the extraction. Your treating dentist is the best source of advice since recommendations may vary depending on the extraction procedure.

**WIlliam F. Scott** Dentist Warren, New Jersey · Accepted Answer

Hello,

Sorry to hear about your extraction. Usually, stitches placed after an extraction get removed about 1 week after the extraction. If your doctor gives you anesthesia to remove the stitches, then you might want to wait until that wears off so you don't bite your lip or cheek. Other than that, it is perfectly fine to eat after removal of the stitches. In fact, that is why your doctor is removing your stitches because they are no longer needed as your gum tissues are healed on their own.
Hope this helps.

My best to you!

William F. Scott IV, DMD

**Dr. Barbara A. Tarnoski** Dentist | General Practice Drexel HIll, PA · Accepted Answer

Dr. Barbara A. Tarnoski Dentist | General Practice Drexel HIll, PA

Your doctor will advise you what to do. You may be given instructions. After your stitches are removed the area may be tender. The mouth heals fast. You probably were eating on just one side. Gradually you will be eating on both sides.

**Dr. Daniel Bishop** Dentist Salt Lake City, Utah · Accepted Answer

Dr. Daniel Bishop Dentist Salt Lake City, Utah

Extraction sites heal over within two weeks normally. After the first week you can usually go back to eating/drinking normally for most extractions. Wisdom teeth extractions take a little longer to heal and are usually good at two weeks.

**Cristina Daniela Balan** Dentist Rotterdam, Netherlands · Accepted Answer

Cristina Daniela Balan Dentist Rotterdam, Netherlands

No hard things or rinsing. You can eat after 1h.

**Dr. Howard Andrew Katz** Dentist Pasadena, MD · Accepted Answer

Dr. Howard Andrew Katz Dentist Pasadena, MD

You can eat and drink as soon as the numbness wears off. Avoid brushing and rinsing for the first 24 hours but you can eat and drink anything after the numbness is gone.

**Neal Nealis** Dentist Chicago, IL · Accepted Answer

Neal Nealis Dentist Chicago, IL

You do not need to wait.

**Dr. Stephen Lashen** Dentist Denville, NJ · Accepted Answer

Dr. Stephen Lashen Dentist Denville, NJ

Immediately

**Dr. Michael Acquista** Dentist Brooklyn, NY · Accepted Answer

Dr. Michael Acquista Dentist Brooklyn, NY

immediately

**Dr. Mathew L. Stewart** Dentist Reno, NV · Accepted Answer

Dr. Mathew L. Stewart Dentist Reno, NV

Typically, when I remove stitches it is because everything is healing as I want it to be. I place my patients on no restrictions at this point in time. As soon as you leave you should be fine unless your dentist or surgeon says otherwise.

**Charles F. Lockhart** Dentist Chicago, Illinois · Accepted Answer

Charles F. Lockhart Dentist Chicago, Illinois

Should be no problem. The stitches were placed to close the opening made by removal of the tooth and to hold the blood clot in place. They are normally removed without anesthetic.

**Sura Hadad** Dentist Halifax, Nova Scotia · Accepted Answer

Sura Hadad Dentist Halifax, Nova Scotia

Anytime

**Carla H. Schlissel** Dentist West Islip, New York · Accepted Answer

Carla H. Schlissel Dentist West Islip, New York

Hopefully, you've been eating and drinking something during the week the stitches were in. Ask your dentist his or her opinion.

**Dipti GP** Dentist Hyde Park, NY · Accepted Answer

Dipti GP Dentist Hyde Park, NY

1 week...Drink, eat, yes, but no hot drinks or use straws or hard foods only semiliquids or liquids for 2-3 days.

**Dr. Carol Ann Scuro** Dentist Rochester, New York · Accepted Answer

Dr. Carol Ann Scuro Dentist Rochester, New York

This is a good question and can be determined after your dentist evaluates your healing when the stitches are removed. If you need a dentist, call the office of Dr. Brad Emery, Dr. Nicholas Emery and Dr. Carol Scuro, at 585-247-7110. Or check out our website at www.drsemeryandscuro.com.

**Frank Avason** Dentist Denver, North Carolina · Accepted Answer

Frank Avason Dentist Denver, North Carolina

You can eat currently and after removal of sutures. There still is healing to be done in the area after removal of sutures.

**Dr. Thu-Nga H. Ortega** Dentist Fairfax, Virginia · Accepted Answer

Dr. Thu-Nga H. Ortega Dentist Fairfax, Virginia

You should be able to resume your normal diet within 24 hours after a tooth extraction. The sutures/stitches should be removed a week after an extraction.

**Dr. Frank V. Peritore** Dentist Brooklyn, New York · Accepted Answer

Dr. Frank V. Peritore Dentist Brooklyn, New York

In most cases it should be OK to eat and drink "gently" once the numbness goes away after an extraction. Rinsing, however, should be avoided for the first 24 to 36 hours. After that you can gradually resume normal eating and drinking as any discomfort allows.

**Dr. Bryan A. Sipes** Dentist York, PA · Accepted Answer

Dr. Bryan A. Sipes Dentist York, PA

You can and could have had something to drink the entire time. Soft foods would have been ok the entire time as well. Once the stitches are out you can basically resume to normal habits. Just avoid very hard and sharp foods. Potato chips, pretzels, etc.

**Scott Levitz** Dentist · Accepted Answer

Scott Levitz Dentist

The area where the tooth was extracted may feel tender for up to two weeks after the time of the procedure. Be careful eating hard-textured foods in the area until your dentist tells you it’s ok to do so.

**Dr. Scott M. Dubowsky** Dentist Bayonne, New Jersey · Accepted Answer

Dr. Scott M. Dubowsky Dentist Bayonne, New Jersey

Use common sense, but as soon as you are thirsty or hungry.

SCOTT M DUBOWSKY DMD FAGD

**Dr. Ramona Yousefipour** Dentist Oakley, California · Accepted Answer

Dr. Ramona Yousefipour Dentist Oakley, California

Hi there. You can always eat and drink after your extraction. You just have to be careful what you eat. Drinking non-alcoholic beverages should be no problem. Take it easy on chips, nuts and popcorn, otherwise you can eat.

Best,
RY

**Sophia Bednarski** Dentist St. Louis, Missouri · Accepted Answer

Sophia Bednarski Dentist St. Louis, Missouri

Usually after 7 days, and you have to make sure that your oral hygiene is meticulous during healing time. Don’t starve yourself! You can eat, no restrictions.

**Tasneim Mohamed** Dentist San Antonio, TX · Accepted Answer

Postoperative care of sutured wounds is important. Sutured wounds within the oral cavity should be kept clean by rinsing frequently with warm water and salt (normal saline).There should be no food deposits around the stitches. The teeth near the stitches can be brushed but don’t brush over the gum area.
The non restorable suture should be removed after one week. The restorable suture dissolve within two weeks, so you do not need to make an appointment to remove them.

**Dr. Mark C. Carl** Dentist Fairfax, Virginia · Accepted Answer

Dr. Mark C. Carl Dentist Fairfax, Virginia

The stiches are removed when there has been enough healing for you to start using the area again. You can eat and drink right away

**Dr. Jesse Grimm** Dentist Kernersville, NC · Accepted Answer

Dr. Jesse Grimm Dentist Kernersville, NC

Usually, once stitches are removed after extraction, soft food and drink is permitted.
Dr. Grimm

**Rick Iskandar** Dentist Burwood, NSW · Accepted Answer

Hey mate, I'd be pretty miffed if a dentist told my patient different post-operative instructions to what I wanted for them! So out of respect for your dentist I'd advise you to do what he advises after he takes out your stitches.

But just FYI, I advise my patients they can drink immediately after stitch removal provided they haven't had concurrent anaesthetic for another procedure.
All the best!
Dr Rick

**Henry Buhl** Dentist Chattanooga, Tennessee · Accepted Answer

Henry Buhl Dentist Chattanooga, Tennessee

This will be determined by your dentist when he removes the stitches and determines if there is no infection surrounding the wounds period usually a week or 10 days is sufficient for sutures to close the wound that allow you to eat and drink normally.

**Ward William Clemmons** Dentist Fort Smith, Arkansas · Accepted Answer

Ward William Clemmons Dentist Fort Smith, Arkansas

Yes, you should be able to resume normal function of that area.

**Inderpreet Brar** Dentist · Accepted Answer

Inderpreet Brar Dentist

You can eat right away, not a big deal

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