After getting your wisdom teeth removed you will need to rest. This means before going into surgery you should prepare for recovery. Think about what you will need after the surgery for meals. Take the time to get a couple of groceries and even prepare some food before you go into your surgery. Foods should be soft and easy to chew, while also ensuring your nutritional needs are being met. This list will help you properly plan your meals before you have your wisdom teeth removed.
Liquid and Soft Foods
For the first 24 to 48 hours, you should eat only liquid or soft foods. While this is a general guideline, people have different needs and recovery timelines. Make sure to follow exactly what your doctor advises for the best recovery.
One of the best options for after your wisdom teeth removal surgery is blended soups. This can include tomato, squash, or pumpkin soups. Broth style soups are also a good choice. Make sure the soups are smooth so that they don’t cause any irritations while eating them. Soups should be served lukewarm or cold. Hot liquids can also cause irritation and delay healing. Soups provide nutrients and also keep you hydrated. This makes them an excellent meal during recovery.
Other foods that are good for the first 24 to 48 hours are soft foods. This includes hummus, smashed or whipped avocado, and yogurts. Other options include fruit and/or vegetable smoothies, applesauce, and cottage cheese. Smoothies are something you can prepare ahead of time and keep frozen until you are ready to eat. Having several of these items around ensures you will meet your nutritional needs. It also means you won’t get sick of eating the same thing.
After surgery, it’s also okay to treat yourself a little bit. Foods like ice cream, pudding, and Jell-O are all good choices. These snacks provide a treat when you are looking for a little dessert. Always eat sweets in moderation, but it’s okay to indulge a bit.
Semi-Soft Foods
On the third day, add in semi-soft foods. Again, people have different recovery timelines. If your doctor advises something different, make sure to listen to them. If you feel pain when switching to semi-soft foods, try going back to the soft foods again for a little longer. During this period you can still eat all the soft and liquid foods you had in the first 24 to 48 hours. However, now you can add more semi-soft food into your diet, this type of food is soft and easy to chew.
Some of our favorites to add back into your diet at this point are mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, salmon, and instant oatmeal. Salmon is soft, and a great addition of protein. Instant oatmeal is softer than other types of oatmeal, such as steel-cut, making it a good option. All these foods add nutritional value to your meal, are simple to make, and are easy to chew. This allows your mouth to still recover and heal properly and adds more texture and flavor to your diet.
Foods to Avoid
During your wisdom teeth removal recovery, it is important to avoid certain foods. This includes any acidic and spicy foods, grains such as rice, all alcohol, and crunchy or hard foods. Foods such as nuts, granola, jerky, and chips all fall within this category. All these foods are irritants and will delay your recovery.
By following these diet guidelines, you can avoid complications such as dry sockets, infections, and reopening of the extraction site. Most people are able to return to their normal diet within one to two weeks after surgery. With this list, you should be able to properly prepare for your wisdom teeth removal surgery. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at Simply Wisdom Teeth. To learn more about wisdom teeth removal, visit our other blogs here.