Having your wisdom teeth removed is a fairly standard practice — yet, they often pay for it with days or even career limiting weeks of discomfort. During your recovery, one of the biggest factors is what you eat after the procedure. Consuming the correct food can ease the pain, prevent complications, and help recover faster. What you eat is as important as how you maintain your oral health while you heal.
In this piece, we’ll cover what to eat after wisdom teeth removal, spotlighting the best foods that are gentle on your mouth, nourishing for your body and conducive to a speedy recovery. These cuisines assist in speedy recovery and prevent unnecessary complications.
Right Foods to Eat after Wisdom Teeth Removal
Your gums and mouth require time to heal after wisdom teeth removal. Eating appropriate foods can speed recovery, while eating the wrong types of foods can slow healing or create unnecessary pain or infection. And foods too hard, crunchy and spicy can irritate the surgical site or get stuck in the blood-oozing sockets and potentially lead to complications.
For optimal recovery, you’ll want to eat foods that are soft and smooth, and full of key nutrients. These foods should be soft enough to chew and swallow with little effort needed to break them down, reducing the chance of irritating any stitches or inflaming the site of surgery.
Advice On What Not To Do After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Before we get into what you should eat, it’s essential to understand what to avoid in your recovery:
- Hard Foods: Crunchy or hard foods (such as chips, nuts, or raw veggies) can irritate the area and become lodged in the socket.
- Spicy Foods: They can irritate and trigger discomfort in the surgical sites.
- Foods that require extra chewing: Tough meats or chewy pieces of bread can clarify be uncomfortably solid and cause pointless strain on your recovering gums.
- Incredibly hot foods and drinks: Foods or beverages that are extremely hot might be bothersome and interfere with healing.
- Acidic Foods: Examples are citrus fruits, tomatoes, or vinegar, which can irritate your mouth and gums.
- Sugary Foods: While they are tasty, sugary foods can promote bacteria growth and slow the healing process, leading to infections.
Now that you know what not to eat, let’s examine the best foods to eat during your recovery.
10 Food Options That Are Good After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are another comforting classic: soft, filling and easy to eat after wisdom teeth removal. They require little chewing and can be flavored in a variety of ways. Add butter or sour cream to make them extra creamy for a more rich flavor. Avoid any chunky ingredients such as bacon bits or cheese, which might irritate your mouth, he advised.
Yogurt
Another great choice after wisdom teeth removal is yogurt. The texture is cool, smooth and easy to swallow without even chewing. It’s also packed with probiotics that may help with digestion and keep your gut healthy. Choose plain yogurt or lightly sweetened ones to skip the extra sugar that can feed bacteria.
You can also mix in pureed soft fruits to your yogurt for a vitamin boost, though you should be careful with acidic fruits — like citrus — that can irritate the surgical site.
Applesauce
Applesauce is another good possibility — soft and easy to eat with some natural sweetness. You can either make your own by blending peeled apples, or buy applesauce from the store. Choose unsweetened applesauce to skip the extra sugar.
Smoothies
Smoothies are a great option for this because they are incredibly versatile and easy to get down. Blend fruit, or vegetable, yogurt and other soft ingredients into a smooth drink. Just avoid hard or fibrous fruits (strawberries or pineapple) that may irritate your gums.
You can also add protein powder, spinach or kale to enhance the nutritional value and support your body during recovery.
Broth-Based Soups
Clear broths or strained soups are ideal for the earliest days of recovery when your mouth might be too tender for much chewing. Soups that go down smooth and fast, such as chicken broth, vegetable broth or creamy potato soup, offer warmth and comfort with no chewing necessary.
You can blend soups into a smooth consistency so there are no potential-for-choking chunks, and you can even chill them a bit so they’re soothing going down.
Pudding and Custard
Pudding and custard are soft, smooth foods, and easy to swallow. These also make a nice treat while in recovery and can quell any sweet tooth cravings. They also don’t need to be chewed much, so they are a good option for the early healing phase.
Beware of super sweet puddings, though, as added sugar can actually cause more damage as you heal.
Scrambled Eggs
Eggs scrambled gently provide protein and are soft enough for a sore mouth. They’re easy to chew, rich in nutrients, and could be prepared to a soft texture that is gentle on your gums. Don’t add any hard or spicy foods, such as peppers or cheese, that could irritate the surgical site.
Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat
Oatmeal and also Cream of Wheat are soft, warm, very easy to prepare for breakfast during healing. They’re easy on your mouth and a great source of fiber and vitamins. You can also add mashed bananas, cinnamon, or honey for extra flavor. Just make sure the texture is not thick and fatty, and it is as smooth as butter, as these will be easier for you to swallow them.
Ice Cream or Sorbet
Not exactly a health food, but ice cream or sorbet can be soothing on your swollen gums after wisdom teeth removal. The cold evokes a numbing sensation, which can soothe the tortured skin. Choose varieties that are soft and smooth and do not contain nuts or hard pieces, and avoid those that are excessively sugary.
Choose sorbet if you are lactose intolerant or simply like a dairy-free alternative. Avoid flavors that can be too acidic at all times.
Avocados
These soft, healthy fats are perfect and edible after wisdom teeth removal! You can eat them mashed, in a smoothie, or pureed into a creamy dip. Avocados are nutritious, packing vitamins E and K, and assist with healing by providing essential fatty acids that your body requires to heal.
10 Tips For Eating After Getting Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
Stick to Soft Foods: For the initial few days post-operative, focus on soft, smooth foods. As you are healing, you can gradually start to add in a bit more firm foods.
- No Using Straws: Drinking from a straw creates suction which can disturb the blood clot in the extraction site leading to dry sockets and slowing down healing. Drink solely from a cup.
- Hydrate: Keep drinking water and stay hydrated, but do not start drinking hot liquids right after surgery to avoid irritation.
Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals: Your mouth may be sore after surgery, so instead of large meals, aim for smaller portions more often throughout the day.
Conclusion:
Having your wisdom teeth removed can be painful, but eating the right foods can help make your recovery easier. Pit soft and cool and nutritious foods in your mouth, such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, smoothies, and scrambled eggs, to be feeling less pain, heal faster, and give your body the nutrients it needs. Steer clear of hard, spicy or acidic foods and try to stay hydrated while you heal. With these dietary tips and recommendations, you’ll be on your way to a speedy and uneventful recovery in no time!