wisdom toothWisdom tooth surgeries may seem annoying, but even more difficult than the surgery itself is figuring out what you can eat after. After the extraction, you should avoid eating foods that are spicy, crunchy or difficult to chew. These foods may increase pain and prevent healing. But that doesn’t mean you have to eat the same one or two foods. Here are some suggestions regarding what to eat after getting a wisdom tooth removed:

Milkshakes:

Milkshakes are very easy to consume and are a good choice of diet for immediately after the teeth are extracted. In order to get the right amount of nutrients, you can add a meal replacement powder or packet such as Carnation Instant Breakfast or GNC protein mix. Make sure you don’t use a straw, because this can dislodge the blood clot from its socket.

 

Fruit Smoothies:

For a nutritious cold drink, mix some fresh or frozen fruit with some yogurt and ice. If you’re looking to add nutritional value, you can add protein powder or other additives. Again, do not use a straw.

 

Ice cream:

For the first couple of days after the procedure, soft serve ice cream is preferable to other types of ice cream. Make sure to avoid cones. The Frostys at Wendy’s and similar desserts are a good idea, especially because they are served with a cup and spoon.

 

Instant Pudding, Yogurt, and Applesauce:

Pudding and other soft foods are extremely easy to eat, and it comes in a number of flavors, thus providing variety. If you’re tired of sweet foods, try lemon-flavored pudding or plain yogurt.

 

Mashed Potatoes:

Mashed potatoes are very easy to eat, requiring no chewing if they are well-mashed. Because they can be topped with gravy, sour cream, or butter, mashed potatoes can also be a good source of variety in your post-oral-surgery diet. If you get tired of regular mashed potatoes or desire a healthier alternative, you can also consider eating mashed sweet potatoes or cauliflower.

 

Drinks:

Most beverages are fine, although you may not be allowed to drink alcohol with your prescribed pain reliever or if you have a post-surgery antibiotic. You should also avoid very cold water, since it can increase pain. Remember not to use a straw!

 

Instant Oatmeal:

Instant Oatmeal is fairly easy to eat although oatmeal that has pieces of fruit in it can be chewy. An alternative that is even easier to eat is instant cream of wheat.

 

Pastina:

Pastina is a type of noodles that are very small and star-shaped. They are typically sold in a box at grocery store. They taste good with butter, and they are easier to eat than the majority of other noodles.

 

Soup:

You should probably wait a few days before eating any soup. While some soups make have chunks of meat or vegetables which are too large, there are some acceptable soups. Two soups that are great to eat during this time are chicken noodle and cream of celery. Make sure they are not too hot, as hot foods can be painful and also impede the clotting process.

 

After the first few days of healing, other foods that you can eat that have more texture but are still easy to consume without much chewing include scrambled eggs, fish, pasta, cottage cheese, and beans. While some foods, such as macaroni and cheese, may seem soft, they can still be hard to eat if they are chewy. A good way to avoid this problem is to overcook pasta until it is very soft. You should also stay away from acidic foods, which may cause stinging in the area(s) where your teeth were extracted.
Depending on the severity of your wisdom tooth extraction, you may have a smaller or larger range of foods that you can eat. These tips will help you to maintain a comfortable and varied diet while your mouth is healing.