Wisdom teeth are often removed due to congestion or crowding pain. For some people, this third set of molars can grow in without any problems, while for many others surgical removal of the wisdom teeth is necessary. After all surgical procedures, there are special instructions that should be followed for health reasons and for optimal healing; Wisdom teeth removal is no exception to this rule. Since this surgery is performed inside the mouth, it should come as no surprise that eating can be difficult for the first few days after teeth are removed.
Some people choose to be overly cautious in their food choices, trying to survive on ice chips, milkshakes, custard, and jelly. Not only does this type of diet get boring quickly, but it also fails to provide your body with the nutrition it needs to recover from your surgery and get back to your normal self as soon as possible. While you should be mindful of your food choices for the first week, you still want to have the nutrients your body needs. To do this, carefully make your choices from each food group. Don’t choose foods that require you to suck or slurp so you don’t cause a dry socket. Foods that are highly acidic can also be a problem. Citric acid puts a strain on the mouth and especially on the gums. Put off this type of food for a week or two.
Protein is important for the body to heal itself. You can get protein by eating meat, beans, lentils, brown rice, and nuts. Since your mouth will be sore, you don’t want to eat meat that is difficult for you to chew. Start with creamy peanut butter on soft bread or beans. Refried beans pair great with flour tortillas, and a bowl of beans makes a great side dish. For the first week, you might want to use beans and brown rice as protein sources. Beans are great in soups.
Vegetables are rich in vitamins and should also be included. When you cook your vegetables, they are softer and easier to chew. Cooked carrots, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and other soft cooked vegetables can be eaten without causing discomfort or damage to your surgical site after your wisdom teeth are removed.
Fruit is another important part of your diet. Eating applesauce and other fruit purees is possible after wisdom teeth extraction. Eating these and drinking fruit juices can help you get your daily fruit needs. It’s important to make choices that don’t contain too much citric acid, as the acids can be harmful to your mouth.
Dairy products are the group that many people cover with ice cream and pudding. These aren’t the best decisions you can make, although they’re easy to manipulate after an extraction. A better choice is cottage cheese and milk. Spreadable cheese (or mozzarella) is another food that is easy to chew and is high in calcium and protein. Yoghurt can be helpful for keeping the bacterial balance in your body in order when you are taking antibiotics and is high in protein and calcium and is usually served with some fruit as well.
It is important to select foods from all food groups. Breads and cereals may not be that easy for the first day or two, but breads and cereals and soft pasta are not that difficult to eat after teeth are removed. Start with soft foods and work your way up if your body allows. It’s probably not a good idea to order a Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza a few hours after surgery, but if you feel up to it, that’s an acceptable meal, too. If you would like your healing time to be reduced, eat soft foods for the first two to three days and work them into your regular diet when you are able.
Thanks to Christopher W Smith
