Will you soon get your wisdom teeth removed? Your surgery has the potential to significantly benefit your oral health. However, it can also come with a few challenges. For example, you will need to modify your diet while you are recovering from the procedure. What should you eat after wisdom tooth extractions? This blog post provides some practical guidance.
Stick to Liquids for the First 24 Hours
You can expect your mouth to be quite sore during the initial 24 hours after your appointment. Chewing anything could worsen your discomfort, so it is best to stick to a liquid diet for at least 24 hours. Water, juice, blended soups, and protein drinks are all suitable options. If you make a smoothie, it should not have any small seeds in it.
Also, remember that you should not use a straw to drink. You could end up dislodging the blood clots at your surgical sites, leading to a complication known as dry socket.
Eat Soft Foods after the First 24 Hours
After the first 24 hours, you can start eating some soft, easy-to-chew foods. Here are some examples of items that might work well for you:
- Scrambled eggs
- Mashed potatoes
- Applesauce
- Avocado
- Mashed bananas
- Pudding
- Ice cream (without hard add-ins)
When Can You Eat Normally?
Most people are feeling well enough to resume their normal eating habits within 1 – 2 weeks of their surgery. Be sure to listen to your body, exercise patience with yourself, and closely adhere to any instructions provided by your dental team. If you find that some foods irritate your mouth more than others, you may need to wait a little longer to incorporate them back into your diet.
What Foods Should You Avoid?
Some types of foods that you should avoid during your recovery include:
- Hard, crunchy, and chewy items. This encompasses things like chips, taffy, and raw fruits and vegetables.
- Foods with small, sharp parts. Popcorn is a major offender in this category because the hulls and unpopped kernels can cause significant irritation.
- Alcohol. Alcohol can slow down your healing process and cause dangerous interactions with pain medications.
Getting your wisdom teeth removed will require you to make some temporary changes to your eating habits. Soon, though, you will be able to go back to enjoying all of the snacks and meals that you love.
Meet the Practice
At the Center for Contemporary dentistry, we provide gentle and comfortable wisdom tooth removal as one of our many restorative services. If you believe you need this procedure or have questions about what to expect during the recovery process, we would be happy to serve you. Contact our Belmont dental office at 603-556-7047.