A sore tooth makes chewing hard and it is easy to skip meals. Choosing soft, mildly warm food keeps your energy up without making the tooth hurt more.
- With a toothache, choose soft, easy to swallow and mildly warm food.
- Avoid hard, chewy, very hot or cold, very sweet or sour food.
- Chew on the side that does not hurt and rinse gently with warm saline after meals.
- A soft menu is only temporary; lasting pain or swelling needs an early check up.
When a tooth hurts, chewing hard food or eating things that are too hot or too cold can make the pain worse. You still need to eat enough, so choose soft, easy to swallow and mildly warm food. Remember that a soft menu only brings temporary comfort and does not replace a check up to find the cause.
Foods to choose
- Porridge, thin soup and smooth pumpkin soup, left to cool a little before eating.
- Steamed egg, soft tofu and steamed fish with the bones removed.
- Mashed potato or sweet potato and mashed ripe banana.
- Plain yoghurt, warm milk and soft smoothies taken in small sips.
- Soft rice or short soft noodles.
Foods to avoid
- Hard or chewy food such as dried meat, nuts, hard sweets and ice.
- Food that is too hot or too cold, since it easily triggers sensitivity, see what to do about sensitive teeth.
- Very sweet or very sour food, which can make the tooth hurt more.
- Sticky or crumbly food that easily gets stuck at the painful spot.
Tips for eating with a toothache
- Chew on the side that does not hurt.
- Cut food small and cook it soft before eating.
- Rinse gently with warm saline after meals to clean the mouth softly.
- Brush gently and avoid pressing hard on the painful spot.
When should you see a dentist?
Pain that lasts, pain that grows at night, a swollen gum or cheek, fever or pus are signs to be seen early. See also what to do about a toothache and signs that decay has reached the pulp. If you have just had a tooth out, see what to eat after a tooth extraction.
When should you visit Ky Hoa Dental Clinic?
Nha Khoa Ky Hoa is at 266A - 268, 3 Thang 2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. You can walk in during opening hours, or call the hotline 028.3868.1097 to ask about quieter times first, so the dentist can find the cause of the toothache.
Frequently asked questions
What should I eat with a toothache?
Soft, mildly warm food such as porridge, thin soup, steamed egg, mashed potato and plain yoghurt, chewing on the side that does not hurt.
What should I avoid with a toothache?
Hard, chewy, very hot or very cold food, very sweet or sour food and sticky food that can get stuck at the painful tooth.
When should a toothache be seen at once?
When the pain lasts, grows at night, the gum or cheek swells, or there is fever or pus.