What to Eat After Wisdom Tooth Surgery
Ten million wisdom teeth are extracted annually in the United States. After wisdom tooth surgery, the average healing time is two weeks.
Figuring out what to eat after wisdom tooth surgery doesn’t need to be difficult. This article will outline the best foods and overall diet choices for what to eat after wisdom teeth are removed.
Table of Contents
What to Eat After Wisdom Tooth Surgery
What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth are Removed: Top Choices
Planning out what to eat after wisdom tooth surgery prior to your appointment can help set you up for optimal healing. It’s important to nourish your body appropriately to have enough support for fast healing.
Likewise, it’s equally as important to choose foods that won’t cause any sort of damage to the area of your mouth that’s healing. A balance between softness and healthiness is ideal.
Here are some of the top options for what to eat after wisdom teeth are removed:
- Soups: Hearty soups are a great way to fill you up fast and come with a lot of varieties to choose from. Bisques and broths will make it easy to get nutrients without chewing.
- Smoothie Bowls: Making smoothie bowls are a convenient way to consume the vitamins and minerals of fruits and veggies. Choose fruits without seeds to prevent any irritation.
- Eggs: This food type is a great opinion on what to eat after wisdom tooth surgery because you can make it in several different forms. Scrambled, fried, poached, or boiled are all easy to eat with minimal chewing involved.
- Yogurt: Most varieties of yogurt are a good choice because it comes with minimal chewing and is cool to the mouth. Avoid fruit chunks in yogurt to prevent seeds from getting stuck. The probiotic also helps protect against upset stomachs while taking prescribed medications.
- Ice Cream and Popsicles: Choosing what to eat after wisdom tooth surgery gives you the perfect excuse to eat all the ice cream and popsicles. The cold temperatures will help with soothing the mouth and any swelling.
- Potatoes: Mashed potatoes and baked potatoes are very filling and take minimal chewing. Avoid fried, salty potatoes like hashbrowns and fries to prevent irritation.
- Pasta: A few days after surgery, well-cooked pasta will take minimal chewing while being a more substantial meal.
Top Beverages for After Wisdom Tooth Surgery
It’s very important to stay hydrated after wisdom tooth surgery. The body needs liquids to support the immune system in order to heal fast and efficiently. Staying hydrated will also prevent the oral tissues from drying out and increase bacteria activity in the mouth.
Here are the top beverage options to drink after wisdom tooth surgery:
- Water: Always stick with a steady water intake. Water is the best beverage to drink after any surgery to support the cells involved in healing and fighting bacteria.
- Juices and Smoothies: These are easy to consume while getting some vitamins and minerals in you. Fruits and vegetables are easy to digest and help support the immune system.
- Tea: Most teas contain antioxidants that help support the immune system and promote healing. Teas also help reduce inflammation and help soothe the stomach.
When choosing what to eat after wisdom tooth surgery, it is very important to avoid straws when drinking beverages. Any source suction will remove the blood clot and cause a dry socket. This can cause a lot of pain so be very careful when drinking and use a spoon with thicker beverages.
Foods to Avoid After Wisdom Tooth Surgery
It’s equally as important when deciding what food to eat after wisdom tooth surgery to understand the foods to avoid. Listen to your body and follow our guide – Tooth Extraction Healing Stages – to know when you’re ready to resume your normal diet.
Here are some foods that you absolutely should avoid after wisdom tooth surgery:
- Fruits with Seeds: Fruits are a great source of nutrients but seeds can get stuck and cause pain and inflammation. Berries should be avoided or strained before consumption.
- Seeds and Nuts: Although filling, nuts and seeds can get stuck and hard to clean out. Stuck foods can increase healing time.
- Salty Foods: High salt in foods can irritate extraction sites and increase healing time. It can also dry out the mouth and increase bacteria activity.
- Acidic Foods: Avoid high acidic foods to prevent irritation. Citrus and certain sauces like hot sauce can cause a burning sensation increasing pain and healing time.
What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth are Removed: Top Home Care Tips
In addition to knowing what to eat and what to avoid, it’s always best practice to follow these top home care tips as well:
Oral Hygiene
It is very important to continue a good oral hygiene routine while healing after wisdom tooth surgery. Continue brushing and flossing the other areas of the mouth daily. Gently brush around the wisdom tooth site after 24 hours.
Warm Salt Water Rinses
After 24 hours, start gently rinsing with warm saltwater. Do not forcefully swish to protect the blood clot and prevent dry sockets. Use half a teaspoon of salt with one cup of warm water. Doing this a couple of times of a day will help promote healing and neutralize bacteria.
Hygiene Tools
Using more hygiene tools can help remove food and bacteria from the tooth extraction hole. It can take several months for the bone to fill the extracted tooth space.
- Child’s Size Toothbrush: Using a smaller toothbrush head can help clean the back of the mouth until you’re able to open it fully.
- Syringe: Using a small syringe with a curved tip can help flush out the extracted tooth holes. Wait at least 4-5 days to start and avoid cold water to prevent sensitivity.
- Water Flossers (Waterpik): Using water flossers at the lowest pressure can help remove stubborn food particles and bacteria. It is recommended to wait up to three weeks before using pressurized water in these areas. Our Floss Alternatives article can help you find what works best for you.
Recommendations on What to Eat After Wisdom Tooth Surgery
If you follow the guideline set out above you should be able to heal quickly from your wisdom tooth surgery. Knowing what to eat after wisdom teeth are removed is crucial to healing properly.
Generally speaking, soft foods that are filling and nutritional are always going to be your best bet. Do your best to avoid any hard foods that might aggravate the healing site and make sure to refrain from sucking on things like straws or smoking.
Following these simple rules of what to eat after wisdom tooth surgery will have you healed up in no time. If you have any questions or concerns, always reach out directly to your dentist.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after wisdom teeth removal can i eat normally?
For most patients, it takes about 2 weeks before starting to introduce the usual diet and resume eating like normal. Listen to your body and start introducing foods slowly.
What can I eat 24 hours after wisdom tooth extraction?
When deciding what to eat after wisdom tooth surgery after 24 hours, choose a soft and bland diet. It’s important to stay hydrated and nourish your body to support the immune system and healing process.
Take Home Smile Store
Visit our Take Home Smile store for educational brochures and other fun printables to help with oral hygiene. All products can be customized to fit your dental needs.
