Wisdom teeth removal is the most common oral surgery procedure performed across the U.S., and the same is true for Drs. Jandali and Hur in Naperville. These pesky molars are likely to cause other oral health problems if not dealt with, therefore, many men, women, and teens from the area choose wisdom teeth removal sooner rather than later. Show When our oral surgeons sit down with patients during an initial wisdom teeth removal consultation, they review every aspect of the surgery, including the recovery period. While recovery is often overlooked by patients, it is one of the most important aspects of wisdom teeth removal. During your recovery, your diet will be temporarily limited to allow your gums and surrounding tissue to heal properly. No need to worry—it won’t be long before you’ll be visiting your favorite Naperville eatery and back to eating solid foods again. Diet Restrictions Immediately Following Wisdom Teeth RemovalMany patients believe that a diet full of milkshakes and ice cream is “just what the doctor orders” after wisdom teeth removal. However, while the occasional treat is okay, our oral surgeons recommend that patients eat nourishing foods during their recovery—even immediately after their surgery, so long as they can be eaten with comfort. Be careful to avoid any foods that are extremely hot, crunchy, or spicy as these can irritate the surgical sites and cause discomfort. Instead, consider foods that are soft or liquid for the first 24 hours after wisdom teeth removal. Remember, in order to avoid dry socket, do not drink any liquids through a straw, as this could dislodge the needed blood clots from the empty sockets in your jaw. Within about a week, you may gradually increase your intake of solid foods. Again, only eat what feels comfortable, and stop eating and make changes if you begin to experience any discomfort or pain. No matter the stage of recovery you’re in, it’s important that you not skip any meals. Eating on a regular schedule improves the recovery period as patients feel better, gain strength faster, and have less discomfort when nourishment is taken in. Foods that are high in nutritional value such as soups, puddings, yogurt, eggs, applesauce, or flaky fish are recommended. Preparing for Wisdom Teeth RemovalOral and Facial Surgery of Naperville recommends that wisdom teeth removal patients plan ahead and prepare their pantry and fridge with the right types of foods before they come in for their surgery. This will ensure you have what you need available and easily accessible while you recover at home. Remember, keep the nutritional value high and balance your intake of protein, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats and carbs so your recovery period will go smoothly. Call Our Naperville Office with any QuestionsIf you find you have questions or concerns about the wisdom teeth removal process, or the recovery period afterward, please do not hesitate to call Oral and Facial Surgery of Naperville. Our entire staff values your safety and wellbeing, and if you are concerned, we want to know. You can reach a member of our team in Naperville by calling (630) 961-5151 today. Overview Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars located in the back of your mouth. They typically come in when you’re between 17 and 25 years of age. It’s common to have your wisdom teeth removed. They may need to be removed because they’re impacted and won’t come in normally. Or they may need to be removed because they’re coming in at a wrong angle. During the removal procedure, you’ll be given anesthesia. Many surgeons will use some form of local, sedation, or general anesthesia. If your teeth haven’t come in yet, your surgeon will likely make incisions to remove them. They may need to remove bone if it’s blocking access to the root of the tooth. Once the teeth are removed, they’ll clean the site and add stitches to close the incision site if necessary. They’ll also place gauze over the extraction site. What you eat following your wisdom teeth removal is important. Eating soft or liquid foods won’t irritate the extraction site, helping it to heal faster. Some foods and drinks can irritate or become trapped in the extraction sites, leading to infection. It’s important to follow your doctor’s orders about what to eat following surgery. Immediately following your wisdom teeth removal and during recovery, you’ll want to start with liquid and soft foods. You won’t have to chew these foods, saving you some pain. Avoid eating harder foods at this time, as these might damage, or get trapped in, the recovering area. Examples of liquid and soft foods include:
Cold foods like Jell-O, smoothies, and ice cream may relieve some discomfort. Nutrient-rich soups and smoothies can help promote healing. Soups in particular can help balance out the other high-sugar options on the list. As you start to heal, you can incorporate more normal foods. Start off easy with semisoft foods like scrambled eggs, instant oatmeal, and toast before moving to foods like chicken, fruits, and vegetables. There are some foods that you should avoid following your wisdom teeth removal. Stick to the foods listed above for the first few days. Avoid the following foods for a week or more until the extraction site has healed.
You should also avoid smoking or using any type of tobacco for a minimum of 72 hours after surgery as it can severely increase the risk of complications. Don’t use chewing tobacco for at least a week. For the first 24 to 48 hours, eat only liquid and soft foods like yogurt, apple sauce, and ice cream. Cold foods may help with some of the discomfort. As you start to feel better, you can try incorporating more solid foods. On the third day after surgery, try foods like eggs, toast, or oatmeal. Gradually continue to increase solid foods as chewing doesn’t cause any pain. If you experience pain when chewing, go back to soft and semisoft foods. Many people are able to resume normal eating within a week. Wisdom teeth removal complications aren’t common, but can occur. The most common complication is reopening of the extraction site, which delays healing. Dry socketsDry sockets are also common. They occur when the blood fails to clot in the tooth socket, or if the clot becomes dislodged. This typically happens between three and five days after tooth removal. Dry sockets can be treated by your surgeon. They will flush out debris and may cover the socket with medicated dressing. Symptoms of dry sockets include:
InfectionsInfections can be caused by food particles or other bacteria becoming trapped in the socket where your wisdom teeth were removed. Bacteria can spread throughout the body and should be treated quickly. Symptoms of an infection include:
Nerve damageNerve damage from wisdom teeth removal is rare, but it can occur. During surgery, the trigeminal nerve may be injured. The injury is most often temporary, lasting several weeks or months. Nerve damage can be permanent if the injury is severe. Symptoms of nerve damage caused by wisdom tooth removal include:
Allergic reactionIf you show signs of an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical attention. You may be allergic to the medications your doctor prescribed, including your pain medication. Signs of an allergic reaction include:
Most people heal quickly from wisdom teeth removal, as long as they follow the doctor’s instructions during recovery. Eating and drinking the right foods — and avoiding the wrong ones — is a crucial part of these instructions. You’ll be much more comfortable, and you’ll significantly decrease the chance of complications. What can I eat 7 days after wisdom teeth removal?You should eat only soft foods for the first week: for example, soups, eggs, mashed potatoes, and meatloaf are fine. For 2 weeks (8 weeks if you had lower wisdom teeth extracted), do not eat hard, crunchy, or very chewy foods, such as European breads, pizza crust, steak or jerky, nuts, or popcorn.
When can I eat pizza after wisdom teeth removal?In addition, it is likely to be scorching hot, which can irritate the clot. The best way to eat pizza after wisdom teeth extraction is six days after the surgery. Freshly cooked pizza is okay to eat six days after wisdom teeth extraction. Unlike refrigerated foods, it is hard and can damage the surgical site.
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