Easy things to eat after wisdom teeth

If you're preparing for an upcoming wisdom teeth removal surgery, you are likely to have questions about the surgery and recovery process, and what will I be able to eat after wisdom teeth removal? A key component to making your recovery from this routine procedure as quick and seamless as possible is understanding post-surgical care and the best post-surgery diet for yourself.

For people between the ages of 17 and 25, "wisdom teeth," a common term used to refer to third molars in the back of the mouth, often grow in impacted or at an angle and cause several other issues that could make it necessary for their extraction. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (AAOMS) recommends patients have their wisdom teeth out if there is an active infection present in the form of gum disease, irreparable tooth decay, or the emergence of cysts or tumors around the tooth. Also, if an impacted wisdom tooth damages the neighboring teeth, it's best to extract it to prevent further harm.

A dental X-ray will determine if wisdom teeth removal is appropriate. It will also establish the number of wisdom teeth needing removal.

Immediately After Removal

Once your wisdom teeth have been removed and you've been sent home from the dentist's or oral surgeon's office, you'll have a bit of recovering to do. Patients generally leave with wet gauze pressed against the area where the teeth were, with the intent of stimulating a clot to slow the natural bleeding that occurs. This clot will morph into the healing tissue, filling the hole in your gum and bone.

To avoid a dry socket, which Mayo Clinic warns can prolong healing and be quite uncomfortable, care must be taken not to disrupt the clot itself. For this reason, you'll be advised to avoid sucking motions (like drinking through a straw) and smoking, as these actions can indeed hinder the healing clot.

What to Avoid

Since one or more anesthetic agents will be used during the extraction, your mouth will feel numb for some time after surgery. Once you've returned home and are resting, it's important to be mindful of the types of foods and drinks you consume to prevent any damage or sensations of pain when you do regain feeling in your mouth.

To avoid burning your mouth while it's still numb, steer clear of hot foods and drinks. Be mindful that it's easy to bite your tongue, cheek, or lips during this recovery period, so it's best to keep away from chewy foods and hard, crunchy foods such as chips and hard pretzels – along with small sharp foods like popcorn with hulls to avoid gum irritation. As you'd expect, spicy foods should also be avoided, as these could lead to further gum sensitivity or stomach upset.

Nutrition is a key component of the reparative process following dental surgery. Like your dentist would recommend at a routine check-up that a well-rounded diet is imperative to your oral health, the same goes for a post-surgery diet. Along with drinking plenty of water, you'll want to eat the best foods for wisdom teeth removal that will be both nutritious and comforting to your mouth. The following foods will provide important vitamins and nutrients for recovery and are easy to chew and swallow:

• Yogurt
• Cottage cheese
• Apple sauce
• Avocados
• Fruit smoothies (with seedless fruit)
• Scrambled eggs
• Soft fish
• Finely cut meats
• Mashed potatoes
• Oatmeal
• Thin soups

It's best to stick to these items for four to seven days following your oral surgery, as noted in Medical News Today, plan by stocking up with these foods before your surgery and avoid a diet consisting of store-bought items that are processed or contain added sugars.

Keep It Clean

Gentle cleansing and rinsing as directed by your dental professional will be an important aspect of your healing process. Choose a flexible toothbrush with ultra-forgiving, super-thin bristles to clean between your teeth and under the gumline without harming the stitched areas or healing tissue.

As a person continues to grow in their late teens and early twenties, the extraction of wisdom teeth can prove necessary to one's dental health. And while wisdom teeth removal is important, it's imperative to know the foods to eat post-surgery (and what to stay away from) for a quick recovery. Before surgery, you can familiarize yourself with more tips for recovery and gain a deeper understanding of what to expect before the procedure.

A doctor's prescription for these misaligned wisdom teeth is usually extractions. After having your wisdom tooth extracted, it is very important to ensure you get the right diet to minimize the risk of complications, help reduce swelling, provide enough nutrients for the body, and support the healing process. 

Foods to eat after a wisdom tooth extraction should be soft and easy to chew. They should also contain many vitamins, minerals, energy, and protein. Here are 16 foods for recommendation:

1. Porridge

Porridge is the number one choice for those who just have their wisdom teeth extracted. Most people choose it as the main food in the following days after the extraction. Porridge is easy to eat and swallow without much chewing effort. You can add eggs, minced meat, fish, and vegetables so that the meal is more delicious and full of nutrients.

2. Soups

Just like porridge, soups are easy to consume and do not irritate the area of surgery. Besides, soups are rich in vitamins and minerals, which ensures you meet the daily nutrition recommendations when you cannot eat many whole fruits or vegetables.

You can have any type of soup as you like: crab soup, pumpkin soup, potato soup, or abalone and shark fin soup, but make sure to blend the soups as smooth as possible for easy consuming. Remember not to eat hot soups since they can cause irritation.

3. Broths

Broths are an excellent source of nutrition after undergoing dental surgeries. Not only delicious, but they also contain many types of vitamins and minerals. And they are a great way to stay hydrated, so do not worry about the lack of excess water in the body after tooth extraction.

Besides, bone broth has also been shown to have an ability of anti-inflammatory, and help to support the recovery process after surgery very well. Similar to the soups, you should also wait for the broth to cool down before eating, or it may irritate the wound.

4. Fresh milk

Almost every dentist advises patients to drink a lot of milk after wisdom tooth extraction because milk is both nutritious and a good source of calcium, which keeps teeth healthy. Milk can even replace your main meal if you have too much porridge, soups, and broths already.

Besides fresh milk, you can drink soy milk and other types of nut milk such as corn milk, almond milk, mung bean milk, etc.

5. Yogurt

Protein-rich foods support the recovery process after tooth extraction very well, and yogurt is that kind of food source. It is rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals (calcium, zinc, etc.), which helps promote the wound healing stage.

6. Mashed potatoes

After getting wisdom tooth extraction, you have a slightly higher need for energy. Potatoes provide plenty of calories and nutrients - both important for post-extraction. After boiling or steaming potatoes, take a little extra time to mash them. Gravy can help make them easier to eat so you would not chew much and worry about the extraction area.

7. Scrambled eggs

Egg is considered as one of the best foods to eat after a wisdom tooth extraction. It is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, and omega-3 fats that help heal wounds. Scrambled eggs are soft, easier to chew and swallow than omelets or hard-boiled eggs. You can add 1 teaspoon of butter or olive oil when frying them.

8. Apple

Apples are very hard and crunchy, which is not an ideal food to chew after getting a tooth extraction. However, apples are a great source of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system and helps with wound healing.

Which way to process apples? Dice and mix with yogurt for a nutritious snack. Mashed apples or mashed apples are also easy to make and tastes quite delicious.

9. Bananas

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world. The soft texture of bananas makes them easy to chew and swallow after having dental surgery. Moreover, bananas are nutritious because they provide a lot of vitamins and minerals, such as potassium, vitamin B6, and folate.

10. Banana Icecream

People often recommend that you eat ice cream in the early stage of a wisdom tooth extraction, but that is not a logical option. The coldness of the cream may help to soothe the wound, but the cream is high in sugar, making it an unhealthy food.

Meanwhile, banana ice cream can overcome this problem. Its main ingredient is bananas, which contain very little sugar. Eating banana cream after tooth extraction helps reduce the pain in your mouth.

11. Avocado

Avocado is a very special fruit. While most fruits contain carbs, avocados are low in carbs but high in healthy fats. In addition, avocado is also a great source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and potassium. Its softness makes it ideal to eat after getting a wisdom tooth extraction.

One study found that avocado can speed up the healing process, which means “to cut two trees in one saw”.

12. Smoothies

If you have tried hard but still cannot eat foods such as porridge or soups, smoothies are a great alternative since they are easy to digest, and you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste as well as meet your nutritional goals. For example, a fruit smoothie that adds yogurt and a spoonful of protein powder will significantly increase your protein intake, which is very important during the post-extraction period (studies have shown that low protein intake can decrease wound healing speed)

13. Cheese

Cheese is low in calories but rich in vitamins and minerals. It is soft and smooth, making it easy to chew and swallow. In addition, cheese contains a lot of protein, which helps with the recovery process after surgery.

Besides eating directly, you can make many variations of cheese by making it into other dishes such as cheese-filled egg rolls, cheesecake, potato and cheese soup, etc. or adding cheese to a smoothie.

14. Instant oatmeal

Oats are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. They are a good source of fiber, minerals, and vitamins.

However, oats have a slightly chewy and sticky texture. Therefore, the best is to wait for 3 days after getting wisdom tooth extraction before eating them. Choose instant oatmeal as it is less acrid than other types.

15. Salmon

Salmon is always at the top of the best fish for health. It is also great to eat after dental surgery because it is soft and easy to chew. Salmon is rich in protein and healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids. These fats help heal wounds by reducing inflammation, especially if your body has low levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

16. Vegetables mash or puree

If you are afraid of biting and chewing cucumbers, carrots, spinach, salads, etc., which may hurt the oral cavity after surgery, crush or puree them. They will still ensure the source of fiber and vitamins provided for the body while you do not have to spend much chewing effort.

Foods to avoid

Certain foods can irritate the wound in your mouth when it is in a healing process. Thus, you need to stay away from them.

• Spicy foods: cause pain and irritation.
• Crunchy and brittle foods: chips, snacks, crackers, etc. are easily broken into debris, and stick to the surgery area, which may disrupt the healing process.
• Most grains and seeds: may also stick to the extraction area.
• Hard, chewy foods like beef steak, chicken, etc. increase the risk of biting your cheeks, lips, and tongue, especially right after surgery because your senses are still numb.
• Fruit with seeds or pits: easily stuck in the extraction area.
• Alcohol: You should avoid drinking alcohol completely in your recovery stage. Alcohol can easily irritate the wound or interact with the medicines you are taking.

Also, do not use drinking straws since they create suction in the mouth, increasing the risk of dislodging blood clots, which are protecting the surgery are. As a result, the underlying bones and nerves are exposed to air, causing pain and delaying healing.

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