Wisdom teeth surgery is all about removing the impacted wisdom tooth that give you trouble. But once you have got it removed, there are certain things you must take care of. And the most important part here is the right food.
You have to eat the right food to make sure your mouth gets enough rest and heals quickly. Reason? Soft means are gentle on your teeth, and that’s exactly what you need to heal faster.
In this article, we will share some basic information on what foods are safe to eat post wisdom tooth extraction. So without further ado, let’s kick off!
What are wisdom tooth extractions?
Wisdom tooth removal is a procedure where your dentist takes out your impacted wisdom teeth or back molars. These teeth grow between 17 and 25 and sometimes cause pain or swelling. Dentists generally recommend its removal only if they are impacted. Reason? Impacted wisdom teeth often cause infection, and that’s why surgery is required in some cases.
Why do people need their wisdom teeth removed?
Impacted teeth
They’re stuck under the gums and can’t grow in the right way.
Crowding
There’s not enough room, so they push nearby teeth out of place.
Pain and swelling
They cause discomfort, pressure, and swelling in the back of your mouth or jaw.
Infection risk
Partially erupted teeth trap food and bacteria, which may lead to painful infections.
Tooth decay
They’re hard to clean properly, which can cause cavities or gum disease later.
Cysts or damage
They may form cysts or hurt nearby teeth, nerves, or parts of the jawbone.
Bite problems
Crooked wisdom teeth can change your bite and make chewing food more difficult.
Preventive care
Dentists sometimes remove them early to avoid pain, damage, or future dental problems.
What happens during wisdom teeth surgery?
After initial preparations, your dentist gives you an anesthetic to keep you calm during the procedure. Anesthesia also makes sure you do not experience any pain during the procedure. Once the anesthesia kicks in, the dentist places a small incision on the gum and removes the nearby portion of the bone to access the wisdom tooth. Then the dentist removes the tooth, cleans the socket and sutures the region. This helps with rapid healing. Then the dentist asks you to bite gauze to stop bleeding; the clot protects and starts healing.
How long does the recovery take?
Look, the recovery for each patient varies based on multiple factors. But overall, the patients recover within one or two weeks at max. Most of the patients start feeling better after 3 or 4 days.
But it’s very important to note that you should not start eating whatever you wish in such a short time. Your gums are steal healing after 3 to 4 days. So you have to rest, take care of your gums and eat soft food for the first few days. It’s better to avoid crunchy and hard foods.
What can you eat after the surgery?
Mashed potatoes
This is one of the most common foods that dentists recommend. Mashed potatoes are soft and creamy. So there is nothing better than them when you are healing after your wisdom tooth removal. You can easily swallow them. And the best part? You won’t have to chew them. You can eat them warm, but not hot. Hot food might hurt your gums. You can add butter, cheese, or milk for flavour and creaminess.
Yoghurt
Yoghurt is another good food that you can add to your diet post-wisdom tooth surgery. It’s smooth, cool and gentle on sore gums. And that’s exactly what you need, right? Moreover, yogurt is loaded with calcium and probiotics. Both of them are extremely helpful in hastening your recovery. Make sure you choose low-calorie and low-sugar yogurt. This will ensure you do not expose your gums to infection.
Smoothies
Smoothies are also a great alternative after wisdom teeth surgery. You can quickly blend fruits, protein powder and even yoghurt to prepare a quick smoothie. This will give you quick energy, without the need to chew. But there’s a catch. Patients often use straw to suck this smoothie. This can be dangerous. Sucking can hurt your gumsn and slow down the healing process. So make sure you drink your smoothie, the old-school way!
Soup
Soup is warm, soothing, and easy to eat after wisdom teeth removal. You can pick clear broths or pureed soups. Make sure there are no chunks to chew, or it will do more harm than good. Do not eat piping hot soup, or it can irritate your gums, and you’ll feel pain. Let the soup cool a bit and then eat it. It’s a great option. Choose clear broths or pureed soups with no chunks to chew. Avoid hot soups because they can irritate your healing gums and cause pain. Let the soup cool to keep your mouth comfy while healing.
Pudding
Pudding is soft, sweet, and easy to eat after surgery. You can eat smooth chocolate or vanilla pudding after the surgery. Pudding can keep you hydrated and aid in healing. So it’s a double benefit.
Applesauce
IF you like to add some vitamins to your diet after surgery, applesauce is a good option. It’s smooth, it’s tasty, and it’s loaded with vitamins. This can hasten your healing process. The best part? It’s soft and easy to chew. So it won’t strain your gums. It’s a healthy, gentle snack for your wisdom teeth recovery.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is another good meal to add to your diet. This fiber-loaded food is soft, warm, and gives energy. That’s a perfect combo to help you heal quickly. You can cook it until it becomes smooth, without any chunks or tough pieces to chew. Then add cinnamon or honey for a gentle flavour (only if you like!) This soft and easy-to-cook meal can help you during your recovery process.
Scrambled
Scrambled eggs are too full of proteins. So they can help heal your body faster. But make sure they are not too hot or too runny, or they can impact your sensitivity. What makes them ideal is that they are soft and gentle. So they are perfect to eat after wisdom teeth removal.
Ice cream
Ice cream is smooth, cold, and soothing, perfect for calming sore gums after surgery. Pick plain flavours with no nuts or chunks to avoid hurting your healing gums. Cold helps reduce swelling and numb pain for short periods during recovery. Enjoy ice cream as a tasty treat that feels good while your mouth heals.
Foods to avoid after wisdom teeth surgery
- Crunchy foods
- Sticky foods
- Hot foods and drinks
- Hard foods
- Spicy foods
- Acidic foods
- Alcohol
- Straws
When can you eat solid foods after surgery?
You can eat solid foods about one to 2 weeks after surgery. Begin with soft foods, then slowly add pasta as your mouth starts healing well. Avoid hard or chewy foods until your gums feel comfortable and pain-free again. By the second week, you might eat most foods slowly, but listen to your body.
How can food affect the healing process?
Food is key to healing well after your wisdom teeth removal surgery. Soft foods help prevent gum irritation and keep stitches safe during recovery. Nutritious meals and vitamin C speed healing and reduce swelling. Eating well boosts energy; avoiding hard or spicy foods aids healing.
Home remedies to ease pain while eating
Cold compress
Apply an ice pack to your cheek to reduce swelling and numb pain.
Saltwater rinse
Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to help ease gum inflammation and clean it.
Over-the-counter pain relief
Painkillers can manage discomfort, especially during eating or when swelling worsens.
Chilled foods
Cold foods like ice cream and yoghurt soothe gums and reduce swelling.
Aloe Vera Gel
Apply aloe Vera gel gently to your gums to help lower swelling and soothe.
Avoid hot foods
Eat lukewarm or cold meals to prevent irritation on your healing gums.
Soft foods
Choose easy-to-eat soft foods such as mashed potatoes or smooth fruit smoothies.
Elevate your head
Use pillows to keep your head raised while resting to reduce swelling faster.
When should you call our dentist during recovery?
Excessive bleeding
If bleeding won’t stop after several hours or gets worse, seek help.
Severe pain
Pain that is unbearable or doesn’t ease with medication needs attention quickly.
Signs of infection
Swelling, redness, or pus near the surgery site may indicate infection.
Fever
A fever can mean infection and needs professional dental or medical care soon.
Numbness or tingling
If numbness in your lip or chin lasts too long, see your dentist.
Dry socket
Intense pain a few days after surgery could mean you have a dry socket.
Hard to breathe or swallow
Trouble breathing or swallowing is serious and needs urgent medical help.
Final Thoughts
Remember, your post-surgery diet is very important. Make a mistake and you will have to deal with pain and more visits to your dentist. You don’t want that, right? So keep a check on what you eat, avoid hard and sticky food and enjoy quick recovery.
Got questions about your wisdom teeth removal or recovery? Dr. Samreen Kaur and the team at Winning Smiles Dental Surgery are here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out give us a call to book your appointment today!
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