What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal: Wisdom Tooth Survival Guide

Before the dentist removes your wisdom teeth, he’ll likely give you a firm nudge to clear out as much food as possible from your diet. There are several good reasons for this: First, it helps lower the risk that you’ll aspirate food into your lungs during surgery. Second, there’s less chance of post-procedural swelling or pain if you follow the dentist’s pre-op instructions. Finally, your mouth will heal more quickly when there’s nothing in it to ferment and cause bacteria to grow during recovery.

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars. They erupt when you reach your mid-teens. If they are properly aligned, they cause no problem. But, most of the times they are not properly aligned and are accompanied with pain, inflammation or any other gum disease. Sometimes they may not appear fully or can press the nerve of the lower jaw. The partial eruption can let bacteria enter the gums and cause infection. In these conditions, your dentist may suggest its removal. Once your wisdom teeth are removed, the first question that may arise in your mind is what to eat after wisdom teeth removal. So, here are few recommendations.

Read: Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost Without Insurance

Foods to Take After Wisdom Teeth Removal:

After wisdom teeth removal, you need to eat something soft so that it is not putting a strain on your gums. But, it should be nutritious as well to make healing process quicker.

• Ice Cream:
  This is the most delicious thing that is usually advised. It is not only good in taste but helps in quick recovery as well. It pacifies the irritation and swelling in the tissues. You can enjoy it in your favorite flavor.
• Yogurt:
  It will give you nutrition and will not put a strain on the gums after the teeth are removed. It is available in different flavors. Flavored yogurt will give you additional nutrients. You can make your selection but make sure that flavored yogurt does not include any chunks to avoid chewing.
• Boiled Potatoes:
  You can also eat boiled potatoes. They contain fiber. Mash potatoes properly after boiling. Do not leave any lump. Otherwise, you will have to chew it. You can also add butter or sour cream. Mix properly to make it smooth and easy to swallow.
• Banana Smoothie:
  You can also opt for a banana smoothie. Banana is a seedless fruit. It is found helpful in reducing swelling. When mixed with yogurt and ice, its chilling effects will appease the irritated gums. Protein powders are also available that can be added for additional benefits. You can take other seedless fruit too, but avoid fruits with seeds as they can hinder and prolong the healing process.
• Soup:
  Soup provides necessary nutrition that speeds up the recovery. Add vegetables you want to your soup for nourishment while cooking, but do not chew them. Once the soup is ready, leave vegetables or other additional things in the pan and take out soup only. Remember, soup should not be very hot when served.
• Pudding:
  The best thing about pudding is that it is ready within no time. Simply choose your favorite flavor and enjoy an effortlessly made pudding. It is good in taste and easy to swallow. If it is cold enough, it will pacify the gums as well.
• Applesauce:
  The combination of apple and honey that is basically required to make applesauce will help in healing by providing vitamin C and essential fibers. Apple will provide you the nutrients. Honey is well known for its healing powers. So, the combination of these two ingredients does not only creates a good taste but can offer nutritional benefits also. You can take it easily as it does not put a strain on the jaws.
• Eggs and Cheese:
  You can boil eggs and mash them. Add some cheese to enhance flavor. It will provide you protein in enough amount as eggs are rich in protein and you can eat them easily. Sour cream can also be added if you like the taste.
• Milk Shakes:
  It is another good option. It will give you energy that is required to heal quickly. You can add ice cream in your milkshake to make it more delicious.

• Noodles:
  If you take noodles, you will not feel empty stomach. You will not have to put an effort in chewing them as they are easy to swallow. Do not eat when they are too hot. Let them cool down a little and enjoy afterward.
• Custards:
  You can also enjoy custard of your favorite flavor. Keep it in the fridge and let it be cool enough to enjoy thoroughly. You can also add some jelly.
• Instant Oatmeal:
  If you like oatmeal, you can take it two or three days after surgery as they can cause uneasiness in the beginning. You can take them with sugar or jam but not with nuts as you will have to chew the nuts. These nuts can irritate the affected area of the gums and cause lesions.
• Drinks:
  Many drinks are there that you are allowed to take after surgery. Make sure the drink should neither be very cold nor very hot as they can aggravate the sensitivity.
• Avocado:
  It is incredibly rich in healthy fats. You can mash avocado and mix salt, lemon or honey in it. You can also use a baked avocado.
• Baked Beans:
  You can also take baked beans after a few days. Bake the beans and mash them properly to avoid any strain on the muscles while eating.
• Cheese:
  It will give you energy. It should be soft and melted so that you do not have to put an effort in eating it.
• Hummus:
  It is a food from the Middle East. Dental patients can take hummus as it is in the form of a thick paste. It tastes good. You can sprinkle some pepper and add olive oil to enhance flavor.
• Soft Pies:
  You can eat a soft apple or prune pie too after a few days.
• Soft Fruits:
  A deseeded watermelon can also be tried. You will not only relish a good taste but will also get energy from it. Cherry and peaches can also be taken as they will provide necessary vitamins and minerals.
• Meat:
  You can take different kinds of meat but they must be well cooked. You can make small pieces of meat and eat them from that side of the jaw that is not treated. It will give you energy and will help in healing wounds.

So, we hope all the foods mentioned above will help you in selecting what to eat after wisdom teeth removal.
For further guidance, we would like to tell you about certain things that you should take care of after teeth removal.

Points To Take Care After Wisdom Teeth Removal:

• Take liquid food for a few days. Avoid those foods that break into small pieces as they can be hurtful. Do not eat spicy food as it can cause burning on the wound.
• Do not smoke.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Do not eat anything that is sticky.
• Avoid putting pressure on the gums.
• Sleep with your head a little more up than usual. You can use an extra pillow for this purpose.
• Use painkillers as suggested by your doctor.
• Use antiseptic mouthwash. You can mix some salt in warm water and use it to gargle. It will give a soothing effect.
• If you have gone through surgery and were given local anesthesia for tooth removal, avoid driving for 2 to 3 days.
• Take proper rest to avoid excessive bleeding.
• You can apply cold packs, ice bags or a bag of frozen peas on the outer side of your cheeks.
• Do not use a straw to suck any liquid food. It may loosen the clot and prolong the healing time. But, keep it in your mind that you have to stay hydrated.
• Remember, not to discontinue brushing your teeth as cleanliness is very important. Just take care that you do not touch the affected area with your tongue or brush. You can start brushing normally after few days.
• Keep changing gauze pads and consult your doctor if you are facing bleeding even 24 hours after the surgery.

What You May Face After Wisdom Tooth Removal:

You may take almost 14 days to fully recuperate after tooth removal. Here are the conditions that one can face during this period.

• Swelling:

You can have inflammation around your mouth. It is normal and will settle down slowly but surely.

• Painful Jaw:

You will feel your jaw is stiff and sore, but you will see improvement within a week. The skin around the jaw will also become better after 14 days.

• Unpleasant Taste:

You may experience an unpleasant taste on your tongue. You will feel that you are not enjoying the food that you are taking. This condition will become better with the passage of time.

• Unresponsiveness:

The area around your face may become numb, but not all people face this situation.

• Excessive Bleeding:

Some people can have excessive bleeding along with the severe pain. One must consult the doctor in such a situation.

• Nausea:

You can experience nausea and vomiting if you swallow blood. Anesthesia and pain killer medicines can also be the reason for nausea and vomiting. If you discontinue using pain medicine, you can overcome nausea in some cases.

• Sore Throat:

Muscles become swollen and gulping becomes painful. This condition will lessen in two to three days.

• Corners of the Mouth Crack:

Sometimes corners of the mouth are stretched during surgery and are cracked. You can apply any moisturizer or Vaseline to get rid of cracked corners.

• Mild Fever:

A slight elevation in temperature is also possible which one can overcome by taking ibuprofen.

Symptoms That Call For Tooth Removal:

• A very common symptom is bad breath. It is because of the pus and impurities that are accumulating in the affected area.
• Bad taste is also commonly observed.
• Experiencing pain while opening the mouth.
• Soreness of the gums. It becomes hard to eat anything.
• It affects the area around the ear and you have to tolerate the ear ache as well.
• Pain on the inner side of the cheeks because of the obstructed tooth.
• Some severe symptoms are also there that indicate a serious condition. They will not go on their own and the patient has to consult the doctor. These are:
• Fever and general sickness.
• Muscles cramp around the jaw.
• Inflammation and swelling of the whole face that may be indicating cellulitis.
• Swollen lymph nodes under the chin.
• The growth of cyst around the impacted teeth.

Here we would like you to read the procedure of tooth removal to fully grasp how it is done. Do check Dr. Sangeeta Honnur discussing signs and symptoms.

The Removal of Wisdom Teeth:

You will have to visit your dentist. He will carefully examine your wisdom teeth condition. Then, he will suggest the way in which your teeth can be extracted. If the wisdom tooth has fully erupted, it can be treated easily. Your dentist will take it out without any difficulty like any other tooth. But, if the wisdom tooth has not erupted properly and is lying underneath the jaw bone, it may require a small surgery. The treatment can be given at the dentist’s office or at the hospital. If the patient is having any infection, the surgeon can delay the removal. Antibiotics are advised to rectify the infection. A small incision is made into the gums and a small portion of bone is removed that is covering the tooth. The tooth is taken out in small pieces rather than in one big piece so that you do not have to remove a big area of the bone. Before taking out of teeth, local anesthesia is given to make the surrounding area numb. General anesthesia is also given to some patients. In the case of general anesthesia, your doctor will tell you the specific time after which you will not eat or drink anything. There are different ways of giving sedatives. Some are oral and some are intravenous. Your surgeon will give you what is the most suitable for you. The patient needs stitches after removal of the tooth. Some stitches get dissolved while some need to be removed after some time. A cotton gauze is placed over the wound to stop the bleeding. Sometimes coronectomy is also done. In this procedure, roots of the tooth remain in the gums and only the crown is removed. It is done to avoid damage to the inferior alveolar nerve but this can cause complications. So, it is not recommended usually.

Foods to Avoid After Wisdom Teeth Removal

So you just got your wisdom teeth removed and now you’re wondering what foods you should avoid to ensure a smooth recovery. Well, you’re in luck because I’m here to give you the scoop on the foods that you should stay away from.

First and foremost, you’ll want to avoid anything crunchy or hard. This includes things like chips, popcorn, and nuts. These types of foods can easily get lodged in the empty sockets where your wisdom teeth used to be and can cause irritation and pain. Additionally, chewing on hard foods can damage the delicate tissues that are trying to heal.

Next up, you’ll want to avoid anything spicy, acidic, or overly hot. Foods like hot sauce, lemon juice, and hot soup can all be too harsh for your post-surgery mouth. These types of foods can also irritate the healing tissues and cause pain and discomfort.

Finally, you’ll want to skip out on anything that requires a lot of chewing or is difficult to swallow. Foods like steak or bread that require a lot of chewing can cause pain and irritation, while foods like apples or raw vegetables can be difficult to swallow and can cause discomfort.

So what should you eat instead? Stick to soft, easy-to-chew foods like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and smoothies. Just be sure to avoid using straws, as the suction can cause complications with the healing process. And remember, always follow your dentist’s post-surgery instructions to ensure a speedy and painless recovery.