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What Causes Light Brown Stool Post A Dental Work?

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Posted on Tue, 14 Feb 2017
Question: Had tooth extracted. Been on soft food diet since Saturday. Since Sunday have notice that stool is very light brown. Could this be from soft food diet?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes its because of changed diet most likely.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing HCM.

Have noted your details,Yes most likely the change in the color of the stool is related to your changed diet.Once you will be back to your normal diet things will return back to normal.After tooth extraction you must be given some medications by your dentist.So change in color of the stool can be because of those medication also.Idon't think there is any need to worry right now.However if things are not normal within few days after switching to normal diet then we can go for some investigations.
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (19 minutes later)
I wasn't given any medication. Did you see the picture that I attached? Does the color look okay even though it is light? I just wanted to add what I have been eating. Eggs, vanilla yogurt, pudding, tomatoe soup, pasta, 2 servings of sweet potatoes. One serving Saturday, and one serving Sunday. Why would the soft diet cause change in stool color?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (57 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
hi again,
stool color is decided by pigments which give color to the stool mainly stercobilogen.Our body gets accomodated to things.In same way our body is accomodated to the food we eat daily however when there is a sudden abrupt change in that fooding style like shifting from solid diet to liquid diet,The breakdown of what we take inn our food gives color to stool.I have seen the pic don't worry you will be fine.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (22 minutes later)
Why is this not mentioned on the internet? I have looked and there is nothing in relation to soft food diet and stool color.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
I dont think that change in stool color for one or two days have any significance in a otger wise healthy individual.A doctor follows what's written in a standard text book.We treat symptoms and not color or numbers.So sir i don't know whats there on google but in my opinion according to my knowledge and experience and according to standard text books,a change in color of stool can be observed after sudden change in diet pattern and is significant only after it persists atleast for a week.
However if you want to be sure few investigations are
stool routine and microscopy
stool culture and sensitivity

If they are normal everything is normal.

Thanks!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :1986

Answered : 2913 Questions

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What Causes Light Brown Stool Post A Dental Work?

Brief Answer: Yes its because of changed diet most likely. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for choosing HCM. Have noted your details,Yes most likely the change in the color of the stool is related to your changed diet.Once you will be back to your normal diet things will return back to normal.After tooth extraction you must be given some medications by your dentist.So change in color of the stool can be because of those medication also.Idon't think there is any need to worry right now.However if things are not normal within few days after switching to normal diet then we can go for some investigations. Thanks