Mushy foods to eat after oral surgery

Whenever your dentist performs a surgical procedure, do their best to ensure that the surgical site remains undisturbed. In this way, the healing time is reduced, but there are minimal chances of post-surgical complications. In addition, if we eat hard or sticky foods, they may dislodge the blood clot from the surgical site, which is essential for healing. That is why the American Dental Association recommends a soft diet for a few days after dental surgical procedures like tooth extractions or implant surgery.

Soft Foods to Eat After Oral Surgery

The American Dental Association recommends taking a nutrient-rich, soft diet abundant in essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, and calcium - besides containing vitamins such as vitamin A, C, and D - that promote healing and ensure optimal oral and physical health.

Some foods that you can try after surgery include:

• Scrambled eggs
• Soup containing vegetables of cream of soup
• Smoothies and milkshakes
• Frozen yogurt
• Boiled or cooked vegetables like carrots, green beans, spinach, and squash
• RIpe fruits like peaches and nectarines cut into small pieces
• Mashed potatoes
• Macaroni and cheese
• Soft bread
• Mashed bananas
• Hummus
• Cereals
• Pasta and noodles
• Baked apples
• Avocado
• Soft-cooked, shredded chicken or meat
• Pancakes

The idea is to avoid small-grained foods that may get stuck within the surgical site and interfere with healing. However, make sure that your diet is nutritious enough to keep you fit and healthy.

At Dental Innovations Mesa, we believe in restoring even the most damaged teeth using advanced restorative procedures. That is why we perform the surgical treatment as a last resort. However, there are still certain cases that require surgical treatment. We strive to ensure minimal post-operative complications with the best possible functional and esthetic outcome in these cases. Dr. Barlow also advises his patients to confirm optimal oral hygiene and take a soft diet to obtain the best surgical result.

Patients who are well prepared for savage oral surgery typically experience a quicker and more successful recovery. Your nutrition and dietary needs following oral surgery can depend on multiple factors including your health before the procedure, the procedure you are undergoing, oral function impact and expected recovery. A liquid or soft foods diet is commonly required for a few days or longer following oral surgery. It is recommended to choose nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy and protein. These types of foods provide vitamins and nutrients required for your mouth to heal.

A soft food diet may be suggested by your oral surgeon following the below procedures:

• Root Canal
• Tooth Extraction (including Wisdom Teeth)
• Dental Implants
• Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery

These types of procedures frequently require patients to stick to soft foods and avoid biting or chewing with the tooth or area for a period of time. As an example, the American Association of Endodontists recommend that patients avoid biting down or chewing following a root canal until the tooth has been restored and a crown has been placed.

The following list includes some examples of soft food items which can be consumed following oral surgery such as the removal of Wisdom Teeth or the placement of a Dental Implant. Immediately following treatment, your mouth and jaw can be quite sore. Focus on consuming a variety of nutritious foods which don’t require chewing.

• Hearty vegetable soups (cream of asparagus, lentil, minestrone, split pea)
• Juices (cranberry, apple, grape)
• Herbal Tea
• Jell-O
• Sorbet and yogurt (soft or frozen)
• Pudding or custard
• Soft, ripe fruits (banana, papaya, berries, canned peaches or pears)
• Applesauce
• Popsicles
• Ice cream or milkshakes
• Fresh cooked vegetables (carrots, squash, green beans, spinach and other greens)
• Fruit smoothies or protein shakes
• Oatmeal or cream of wheat (make with milk in order to boost nutrition)
• Eggs (scrambled, soft boiled or egg salad )
• Mashed potatoes
• Rice, couscous, quinoa or bulgur
• Tofu
• Pasta and noodles (plain, buttered or with sauce )
• Fish (soft white fish, sole, trout or salmon)
• Soft cheeses
• Cottage cheese
• Meatloaf
• Tortillas (soften by microwaving or steaming)
• Soft-cooked, shredded chicken and meat
• Baked or canned fruit (apples or peaches)
• Peanut or alternative nut butter
• Chicken or tuna salad
• Refried or mashed canned beans
• Avocado
• Pancakes
• Soft bread
• Hummus

The temperature of food and beverage, both hot and cold, is also important to consider. As an example, consuming hot drinks while healing from wisdom tooth removal can irritate gum tissue and complicate the recovery process. Focus on consuming items that are warm instead of piping hot. In addition, it’s best to stick to colder foods, such as yogurt, until your oral surgeon allows you to expand your dietary options.

It is important to avoid the following foods for the first week following surgery as they can cause pain and delayed healing:

• Spicy foods
• Citrus juices
• Foods that are difficult to chew (steak and deli meats)
• Crunchy foods (popcorn, pretzels and potato chips)
• Crusty breads, bagels, cookies
• Alcoholic beverages

On the day of surgery, it is recommended to start with clear fluids (juices, broth, tea and Jell-O). As the recovery progresses, you can slowly introduce more substantial foods.

What to cook for someone who had oral surgery?

What soft Can I eat after tooth extraction?

What is the best thing to eat after oral surgery?

What can you eat after oral surgery with stitches?