What To Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal: Wisdom teeth or back molars are the last permanent adult teeth that erupt at the corners of the mouth. Some people may not have them at all while others may have them in varied numbers ranging from 1 to 4. For some people, an eruption of wisdom teeth can cause a variety of issues when they partially emerge through the gums or grow at odd angles due to a lack of backspace inside the mouth. These wisdom teeth are said to be impacted. They may give rise to issues like active infections in the form of gum disease, irreparable tooth decay, overcrowding, misalignment, the emergence of tumors or cysts around the tooth, and cause damage to neighboring teeth. To resolve these concerns or prevent further harm to healthy teeth, it becomes necessary for people to opt for wisdom teeth removal.
When you prepare for surgical extraction of your problematic wisdom teeth, you are likely to have questions about the procedure and recovery process, and what should I eat after wisdom tooth removal? One of the essential things that can help make your recovery as quick and seamless as possible is to know the best post-treatment diet for yourself.
Following your wisdom tooth extraction, it is criticcal that you eat a nutritious diet. Proper nutrition can help reduce swelling or any other discomfort, aid in the natural healing of the tooth extraction site, and minimize the risk of complications.
The foods that you eat after wisdom tooth removal must be soft and easy to chew. Having a soft or liquid diet containing lots of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and energy-providing components would not irritate the extraction site and assist in its quick healing. However, some foods and drinks can get stuck at the extraction site or irritate it, resulting in its infection. Therefore, you must follow your doctor’s orders about what you can eat after wisdom teeth removal.
What To Eat A Week After Wisdom Teeth Surgery?
A week guide for what to eat after wisdom teeth surgery:
Day 1
Immediately following a wisdom tooth extraction, your mouth will feel numb because of anesthesia until it wears off. You may not feel like eating or drinking anything for a few hours. But when you are home and rested, you need to be mindful of the types of foods and drinks you consume to prevent any damage or pain sensations when you regain feeling in your mouth.
In the initial 24 hours after the surgery, you must avoid solid foods altogether. You should stick to liquids in your diet like having more juices and water or taking broth. While taking any fluids avoid the use of a straw as it can cause dry socket conditions.
Day 2
After 24 hours, you can shift to intake of soft foods such as pudding, Jell-o, yogurt, smoothies, applesauce, and blended soups. Avoid the consumption of very hot or cold foods or drinks that may harm the extraction site.
Day 3
On the third day post-surgery, you can continue eating soft foods and add mashed potatoes to your diet. You must let hot and cold foods or drinks come at room temperature before having them.
Day 4
In continuance of the liquid and soft diet that is crucial for the next 2 days, on day 4 of the recovery, you can consume cream of wheat, oatmeal, popsicles, or ice creams. Cold foods or drinks can help soothe the swollen gums but they must be avoided for a few more days if they make you feel uncomfortable.
Day 5
This is the last post-surgery day where you are still advised to have soft foods. To add some flavor and nutrition to your diet while still making it easy to eat, you can have cheese, eggs, and macaroni. You can eat more substantial items but you must still avoid hard and crunchy foods as they can injure the extraction site.
Day 6 and Beyond
For at least the first week, you must steer clear of hot drinks and foods, chewy foods, acidic or spicy foods (including citric juice), alcoholic beverages, grains (including quinoa and rice), and hard, crunchy foods like hard pretzels, chips, and popcorns. You must also avoid chewing tobacco.
As you start to feel better and have less sensitivity and swelling at the extraction site, you can try to incorporate more solid foods into your diet. You must gradually increase the intake of solid foods when chewing begins to cause not much pain or discomfort. If you still experience pain while chewing, stick to the soft and semi-soft foods like toast, scrambled eggs, and instant oatmeal for a few more days. Usually, you may recover from wisdom tooth removal within a week and be able to resume normal eating. After a week you can enjoy having chicken, vegetables, and fruits back again.
Want to know more about what you can eat after wisdom teeth removal to ensure early recovery. Consult now with the best wisdom tooth removal surgeon in Chicago at The Dental Specialist (TDS).