Short answer: Yes, you can eat after a root canal, but you should start with soft, gentle foods and avoid anything hard, sticky, or extremely hot or chewy until your mouth heals. What to expect and how to eat

• First 24 hours: Focus on a mostly liquid or very soft diet. Good options include yogurt, pudding, smoothies (no straw if advised), applesauce, mashed potatoes, and well-cooked, soft soups. Cold or cool foods can help reduce swelling and discomfort.
• Days 2–3: Gradually reintroduce soft, non-irritating foods. Think scrambled eggs, soft pasta, mashed vegetables, yogurt with fruit, soft bread, and smoothies. Keep foods lukewarm rather than hot.
• After about 72 hours (or when your dentist says you’re ready): You can try more solid, soft options as tolerated, such as well-cooked rice, soft-cenned chicken or fish cut into small pieces, cottage cheese, and cooked vegetables. Monitor tenderness and avoid chewing on the treated side until fully healed.
• General tips: Chew on the opposite side of the treated tooth, cut food into small pieces, and avoid very chewy, crunchy, or sticky items (nuts, popcorn, hard candies, pretzels, chewing gum). Stay away from very hot beverages if your mouth is numb after the procedure, and avoid using a straw if your dentist advised not to.

Things dentists commonly emphasize

• Wait until numbness wears off before eating to prevent biting the tongue or cheek.
• If a temporary crown or filling is in place, be especially cautious to protect it from being dislodged or damaged.
• Maintain good oral hygiene, but rinse gently and avoid vigorous brushing around the treated area for the first day or two as advised by your dentist.

If you’re unsure about when you can eat solid foods or which foods are safest for your specific case, contact the dentist or the clinic that performed the procedure. They can provide advice tailored to whether a temporary crown is in place, the tooth treated, and your healing progress.