Best Foods to Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom tooth removal is a common surgery that involves a recovery time of about three days to two weeks, depending on the patient's age and the procedure's complexity. Eating soft, nutritious foods during recovery keeps the surgery site from irritation and promotes good health.

Best Foods to Include in Your Diet Post-Wisdom Teeth Surgery

• Blended Soups and Broth: Soup is an excellent choice, but take care that it is not too hot. Stay with blended soups and broths. Add soups with meat and vegetables later in the recovery process.
• Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is highly nutritious and packed with protein. It is also cool and soothing.
• Scrambled Eggs: A solid source of protein, scrambled eggs can provide the energy a patient needs to recover.
• Applesauce: Applesauce is a sweet treat with fiber. 
• Mashed Potatoes: These are a well-loved side dish.
• Smoothies: Smoothies are an excellent way to boost protein, vegetable, fruit, and dairy intake.
• Avocado: Avocado has healthy fat and a creamy, pleasant taste.
• Cottage Cheese: This cheese can blend with many flavor combinations and is a high-protein choice.

Food Categories to Avoid

• Crunchy foods: These foods can irritate surgery sites and become caught in healing sockets.
• Spicy foods: These foods can cause pain while surgery sites recover.
• Nuts, seeds, and grains are difficult to chew and can collect in tender places.
• Chewy or tough foods: Avoid these for at least a few days.
• Alcohol: Alcohol impedes healing, interacts with medications, irritates the wounds, and causes dehydration. Avoid it completely while surgery sites heal.

8 Helpful Tips for Smooth Recovery

1. Follow all postoperative instructions carefully.
2. Avoid using a straw while surgery sites are healing. Straws involve suction and could cause dry sockets, a painful side effect.
3. Avoid carbonated beverages at first since they can irritate tender gums.
4. Keep surgery sites as clean as possible.
5. Stay with soft foods until surgery sites heal.
6. Rest, hydrate, and take time to recover from surgery and anesthesia.
7. Avoid overly hot or cold liquids to minimize irritation.
8. Eat mostly nutritious foods that will provide protein, vitamins, and energy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wisdom Teeth Removal

Do all wisdom teeth need removal?

Not everyone needs the surgery. If these teeth are not impacted and are not likely to cause future problems, they can stay in place. However, most people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth that can cause pain, irritation, and infection and damage other teeth.

Why do we have wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth carry over from our earlier human ancestors. Their jaws were larger and their diet tougher, so they needed a third set of molars. Today, most people do not have room in their mouths for these teeth to erupt, so they become impacted.

Call Braasch OMS

As you prepare for wisdom teeth removal, it is wise to stock your pantry with these foods. You may be anxious about your surgery or have questions about what you can eat or do afterward. Please call Braasch OMS at 603-657-1984 with questions or to schedule an appointment for a wisdom teeth consultation.