Patients often ask, “What to eat after wisdom teeth removal?” Wisdom teeth surgery can be daunting but even more challenging if you don’t know what to eat and drink.
Approximately 7% of individuals experience pain and trismus (difficulty opening the mouth) after dental surgery, which can affect chewing, swallowing, and food intake. So, eating after tooth extraction matters a lot.
You’ll need to modify your diet to include soft foods that are not painful to chew after surgery, as you may experience mild swelling and discomfort. This article comprises a complete guide about what to eat after wisdom teeth extraction when to eat, and things you can’t do after oral surgery.
What can you eat after wisdom teeth removal?
After removing your wisdom teeth, drink lots of water and eat soft foods like yogurt, blended soups, and applesauce. Don’t use alcohol, hot beverages, or carbonated drinks because they may irritate tooth sockets after oral surgery. Foods that are hard, crunchy, scorching, or spicy can cause swelling, pain and bleeding.
Ensure you’re getting enough proteins, vitamins and minerals to heal wounds. You need to eat enough food or drink broth and liquids to receive the necessary nutrients for recovery. Malnutrition hinders wound healing, and protein and vitamin deficiencies slow the healing process.
We have compiled a list of 50 soft foods to eat after wisdom teeth removal. These cold soft foods are also beneficial for periodontal surgery patients. Remember that each dental surgery is unique, and you should follow your dentist’s post-operative diet instructions.
50 soft foods to eat after tooth extraction
- Applesauce
- Mashed bananas
- Mashed potatoes
- Greek yogurt
- Avocado or other soft fruits
- Simmered mashed broccoli or carrot
- Ice cream
- Smoothies
- Hummus
- Broths
- Blended creamy soups
- Oatmeal
- Boiled mashed pear, peach, or apple
- Cottage cheese
- Scrambled eggs
- Mashed fish (especially salmon)
- Soft cooked pasta
- Egg salad
- Noodles
- Macaroni
- Doughnuts
- Custard
- Milk
- Cake
- Baby foods
- Pudding
- Pancakes
- Gravy
- Muffins
- Tapioca pudding
- Mashed cooked beans (kidney beans, butter beans, or black beans)
- Mashed cooked chickpeas
- Mashed pumpkin
- Cranberry sauce
- Vegetable juice
- Fruit juice (avoid citrus fruit)
- Tofu
- Sweet potato
- Jelly
- Crab cakes
- Milkshakes
- Pureed seedless fruit
- Cream of wheat
- Instant cream of rice
- Soft-cooked butternut squash
- Kefir
- Risotto
- Polenta
- Cold coffee or iced tea
- Stew (Blended)
Include protein sources like eggs, Greek yogurt, milk, salmon, beans, or lentils in your diet because protein speeds up wound healing. These cold and soft foods are the best sources of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Consider these soft foods to eat after wisdom teeth removal.
How long after tooth extraction can I eat?
After having oral surgery, you can eat whenever you feel hungry, but you must be careful with your food choices. It is recommended that you should stop anything for the first 2 hours. After 24 hours, you can eat soft foods that require minor chewing, taking care not to chew near the extraction site.
When can I eat solid food after wisdom teeth removal?
Once the pain begins to ease, you can start eating semi-soft foods like bananas, avocados, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs. For several days, you will likely consume soft and semi-soft foods. Most people feel better within three to four days, but let the pain be your guide. Eat what tastes delicious, and return to your regular diet when the pain subsides.
Tip: You can create suction in your mouth and gather the food particles on the end of your tongue by chewing the semi-solid food into small fragments.
Foods and drinks to avoid
Several sold foods and hot drinks may irritate the extraction sites in your mouth or dislodge the blood clots, which are essential for healing after teeth surgery.
During recovery, you should avoid consuming:
- Alcohol
- Hot drinks (coffee, tea)
- Carbonated beverages
- Solid foods (nuts, seeds)
- Grains (uncooked rice, quinoa)
- Chewy foods (candy)
- Spicy foods
- Acidic foods
- Crusty bread
- Crunchy and crumbly foods (chips)
- Popcorn
What happens if you eat something wrong after having your wisdom teeth removed?
Hard, scorching, chewy, crunchy, or spicy foods can get stuck in the tooth socket, causing pain bleeding, and prolonging the healing process. Instead, stick with soft dishes. It would help to avoid nuts and seeds until fully recovered, as they can become lodged in wisdom holes.
Also Read: 10 Best Ways To Remove Food Stuck In Wisdom Tooth Hole
Final Remarks
We hope you got the answer to your query “What to eat after wisdom teeth removal”. Choosing nutrient-rich and soft-textured foods is essential if you’ve recently had your wisdom teeth removed. These may help in recovery, relieve discomfort, and keep you blissful.
Stock your refrigerator and pantry with enough cold and soft foods to last a few days. Try to make smoothies with your favorite ingredients. Add yogurt, applesauce, bananas, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs to your diet.
Call your dentist or oral surgeon if you experience excessive bleeding, fever, severe pain, or swelling that worsens three days after wisdom tooth surgery. Also, contact your doctor if you cannot chew after a few days. They will recommend the optimal subsequent actions.
FAQs
Can I eat spicy and hot foods after wisdom teeth surgery?
No, after having your wisdom teeth removed, you should avoid anything hot or that may hurt your mouth. Hot and spicy foods can cause burning infection and increase blood flow to the extraction site. Consuming hot drinks 24-48 hours after dental surgery can irritate the surgical sites.
Can you eat salad after wisdom teeth removal?
You can start eating salad, soft canned fruit, and soft cooked vegetables after 3 days to 3 Weeks. Ham salad, egg salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, stuffing, peanut butter, bananas, and broccoli are soft and easy to eat. You can eat such soft salad and veggies.
How long after wisdom teeth removal can I eat chips?
Avoid chips and other crunchy and hard foods after wisdom teeth removal. Solid foods can cause dry sockets by dislodging the blood clot forming over the extraction site. You can start eating chips after wisdom teeth removal once the surgical site has fully recovered, which can take 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the complexity of your surgery.
Can I eat rice 2 weeks after wisdom teeth removal?
Yes, 3-7 days after oral surgery, you can eat semi-solid things like rice and pasta. It is better if you eat cream of rice.
Can I eat soup after tooth extraction?
Yes, soup is the best food to eat after wisdom teeth removal. When recovering from an extraction, broth-based soups can be an excellent source of protein—only warm soups since hot food and drinks can irritate the surgical site. You can also take vegetable soup such as potato carrot soup, broccoli soup, etc.
Can I chew gum after wisdom teeth removal?
Unfortunately, no. You cannot chew gum after your wisdom tooth extraction. It is advisable to wait for two weeks when it comes to chewing gum.
