10 Dinner Ideas After Tooth Extraction That’ll Actually Fill You Up

Let’s be real – getting a tooth pulled is no fun and the thought of surviving on nothing but applesauce and ice cream for dinner? Even worse. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to sacrifice flavor or satisfaction just because you’re stuck with soft foods for a while.

I’ve put together some seriously delicious dinner recipes that won’t leave you feeling like you’re missing out. These meals are gentle on your healing mouth but packed with the good stuff your body needs to bounce back quickly48.

Pro tip: Keep everything at room temperature or slightly warm – nothing too hot that’ll irritate your extraction site. And remember no straws! The suction can mess with your healing process.

1. Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

This soup is like a warm hug in a bowl. It’s silky smooth and loaded with nutrients to help you heal faster27.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium butternut squash peeled and cubed
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 carrots peeled and sliced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 tsp ginger grated
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup coconut milk (optional)

Instructions:

1. Sauté onions and garlic in a large pot until they’re nice and soft
2. Toss in the butternut squash carrots ginger and broth
3. Bring it to a boil then let it simmer until everything’s tender
4. Blend until it’s completely smooth – no chunks allowed!
5. Stir in coconut milk if you want extra creaminess then season to taste

2. Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Sometimes you just need comfort food and these creamy garlicky potatoes deliver every time3.

Ingredients:

• 4 medium potatoes peeled and chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil those potatoes until they’re fork-tender (about 15-20 minutes)
2. Drain and return them to the pot
3. Mash with butter milk and garlic powder until they’re perfectly smooth
4. Season with salt and enjoy the comfort

3. Protein-Packed Scrambled Eggs

Don’t underestimate the power of perfectly scrambled eggs. They’re soft protein-rich and will help your body heal8.

Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: soft cheese chives

Instructions:

1. Whisk eggs with milk salt and pepper
2. Heat butter in a non-stick pan over low heat (this is key!)
3. Pour in the eggs and gently stir as they cook
4. Keep stirring until they’re fluffy and just set
5. Add cheese or herbs if you’re feeling fancy

4. Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon

These are like dessert disguised as dinner – sweet creamy and packed with vitamins2.

Ingredients:

• 3 large sweet potatoes peeled and diced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• Salt and cinnamon to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil sweet potatoes until they’re completely tender
2. Drain and mash them up good
3. Mix in butter milk salt and a dash of cinnamon
4. Keep mashing until it’s silky smooth

5. Soft Fish with Herb Butter

Fish is perfect after tooth extraction because it flakes apart easily and doesn’t require much chewing5.

Ingredients:

• 4 white fish fillets (cod or tilapia work great)
• 3 tablespoons butter softened
• 1 tablespoon fresh herbs (or 1 tsp dried)
• Salt and pepper
• Lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Season fish with salt and pepper
2. Pan-fry in a little oil until it flakes easily
3. Mix softened butter with herbs and lemon juice
4. Top the fish with herb butter and let it melt

Pro tip: Salmon works amazingly too – it’s naturally soft and loaded with healing nutrients5.

6. Creamy Cauliflower Mash

This is basically mashed potatoes’ healthier cousin and it’s just as satisfying2.

Ingredients:

• 1 head cauliflower chopped
• 2 tbsp cream cheese
• 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Steam or boil cauliflower until it’s super tender
2. Mash it up and mix in cream cheese cheddar and butter
3. Keep mixing until it’s creamy and smooth
4. Season with salt and pepper

7. Banana Avocado Smoothie Bowl

Who says smoothies can’t be dinner? This one’s thick enough to eat with a spoon and incredibly filling2.

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana
• 1/2 avocado
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup oats (optional)

Instructions:

1. Blend banana avocado yogurt and honey until smooth
2. If you want it thicker add some oats and blend again
3. Pour into a bowl and eat slowly with a spoon

8. Soft Black Bean Soup

This protein-packed soup will keep you full and help your body heal2.

Ingredients:

• 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 bell pepper diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Sauté onion bell pepper and garlic until soft
2. Add black beans broth and spices
3. Simmer for 15 minutes
4. Blend partially – you want some texture but nothing chunky
5. Season and serve warm

9. Creamy Chicken and Rice

This is comfort food at its finest – soft warm and incredibly satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 1 cup cooked chicken shredded finely
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 tbsp cream cheese
• Salt and pepper
• Optional: soft vegetables

Instructions:

1. Mix rice with shredded chicken
2. Add broth and cream cheese
3. Heat gently until everything’s warm and creamy
4. Season to taste

Pro tip: Make sure that chicken is super tender and shredded really fine.

10. Greek Yogurt Parfait Dinner

Okay hear me out – this isn’t just for breakfast. Layer it right and it’s a legitimate dinner9.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup soft granola (crush it up if needed)
• 1 banana mashed
• 1/4 cup ground nuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix yogurt with honey
2. Layer yogurt mashed banana and crushed granola
3. Repeat layers
4. Top with ground nuts if you can handle them

Final Thoughts

Final pro tip: Listen to your body and don’t rush back to regular foods. Your mouth needs time to heal and these soft nutritious meals will keep you satisfied while you recover. Most importantly stay hydrated and follow your dentist’s instructions!

Remember this phase won’t last forever but while you’re in it you might as well eat well. These recipes prove that soft doesn’t have to mean boring – and who knows? You might discover some new favorites along the way.