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Depending on what type of treatment you receive, oral surgery may require a couple weeks of healing time before you’re ready to resume your normal routine. One of the most common questions that we receive is how long it takes until you can eat solid food without having to worry about causing any pain or damage to the surgery site. Why You Can’t Eat Solid Food After Oral SurgeryDental tissue is soft and sensitive. When we’ve gone through oral surgery, like a wisdom tooth extraction, chances are we are leaving an area of our mouths vulnerable and exposed. Not to mention, our jaws may be sore from the surgery, and it can be difficult to eat or even talk while we recover. This is why we don’t recommend that you eat solid foods after oral surgery. Not only does it increase your risk of developing an infection if food particles get stuck in the surgery site, but it also can be difficult to even eat at all.  What to Eat InsteadOne of the advantages of recovering from oral surgery is that we actually recommend that you eat soft foods that you probably normally wouldn’t eat large quantities of, like ice cream, Jello and mashed potatoes. Soups may also be okay as long as they are not too hot. The best news is that you don’t have to keep up with this soft food diet for very long, either. Normally, you should avoid solid food for just 24 hours after your oral surgery, after which it may be okay to eat it again. It’s very important to talk to your dentist about specific eating instructions, as it depends on the type of treatment that you have received as well as your own individual healing time. But remember, it’s always best to err on the side of caution instead of causing any damage! If you have any questions about restorative or cosmetic procedures, along with what the healing time for any of these treatments look like, contact us today at Dental Solutions of Columbus! We look forward to seeing you!
On the day of surgery, you will have a moderate amount of discomfort. It is likely you’ll be hungry but won’t want to eat. You should avoid solid foods altogether. Instead, stick to liquids like broth. It is essential that you get enough liquid in your diet, juice, and water are great options. You will want to avoid using a straw as this could cause a dry socket. Dry socket is when the blood clot that forms after surgery is dislodged. This condition can be excruciating. Sucking through a straw can cause the blood clot to come out. Day 2After 24 hours, moving on to soft foods is encouraged. You still will want to avoid anything hard, but you can eat items with some substance, including yogurt, pudding, jello, and soups. If possible, avoid the food sitting on the incision site. There will be a great deal of sensitivity, so avoid having overly hot or cold foods. Day 3On day three, you will want to continue eating soft foods, including pudding, jello, soup, and applesauce. You can also incorporate mashed potatoes into your diet for a change of pace. However, you should let any hot food or drinks cool to room temperature. This will reduce the likelihood of causing discomfort. Day 4Continuing with liquids and soft foods is crucial for the next two days. On day four, you can consume cream of wheat, oatmeal, and ice cream. Popsicles can also be eaten, but if you find that the cold of ice cream and popsicles to be uncomfortable, it might be best to avoid for the first few days. In general, many find the cold to be soothing for the swollen gums. Day 5Day five is the last post-operative day, where you should still be having softer foods. Macaroni and cheese and eggs are great additions to the diet, that provide some nutrition and flavor, while still being easy to eat. You can now begin eating more substantial items. But you will even want to avoid overly crunchy foods. A great example would be tacos and nachos. The chips and shells can be too crunchy and injure the incision site. Day 6 and BeyondStarting day six and beyond, you will still want to be careful about what you eat and drink. Avoid overly hot or cold items for at least the first week. You may notice that around day six that there is less sensitivity, less swelling, and it is much easier to chew. However, you should avoid anything overly chewy. After eating, it is important to keep the teeth and gums clean. Using a soft bristle tooth gently cleanse the area. Your dentist will likely instruct you to do a saltwater rinse beginning on day 2. It is important not to be overly aggressive with the rinse and simply swoosh around your mouth.
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. Eating Solid Foods After Wisdom Teeth RemovalWithin 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.
What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth RemovalImmediately following your wisdom teeth removal, there will be some pain and swelling. It is important to be gentle with your jaw and not disrupt the blood clot during those first few days. This risk can be lessened by eating soft or liquid foods only during those initial days. For the first week following surgery, see some great options for foods below:
You must follow all aftercare procedures as advised by your dental surgeon and be very gentle following your surgery. After a few days, you can slowly begin to introduce other foods, but listen to your body and go back to soft or liquid meals if you start to experience pain or discomfort. When introducing more solid foods, you can ease into it with scrambled eggs or oatmeal, rather than chips or steak. What to AvoidCertain foods should be avoided during your recovery, as they may disrupt your healing process. Crunchy or hard-to-chew foods such as nuts or beef jerky can reopen stitches or get stuck in the extraction site, causing pain or infection. Additionally, foods high in acidity or spice can irritate your wound and cause discomfort. Straws are also a big no-no when it comes to healing from a wisdom teeth removal procedure. The sucking motion needed to use a straw can dislodge the blood clot and cause bleeding, pain, and a prolonged recovery. This is often called dry socket, and it can be quite painful. Ultimately, every patient can take a different amount of time to heal fully, and we encourage you to slowly introduce foods based on your comfort level. Most sockets take about 6 weeks to heal fully following dental surgery, and you should be back to mostly normal eating habits within 3-4 weeks post-procedure. Are you looking to get your wisdom teeth removed? Call our Glendale, Pasadena, or La Cañada locations to schedule a consultation today! |
When can you eat solid foods after wisdom teeth surgery
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