Wisdom teeth, the third molars, are the last teeth to appear. Usually, they erupt between ages 17 and 25, but they can come earlier or later. Wisdom teeth squeeze in, whether or not there’s sufficient room on the gum. The pressure created can cause pain and inflammation – impacting your quality of life.
If you are experiencing wisdom tooth pain, the most practical solution is to visit your local dentist for a check-up. In cases where over-the-counter medicine isn’t helping, you might then be advised to get a wisdom teeth removal.
But dental work can mean changes to your diet, at least in the short term during the initial recovery period. So what can you eat after your wisdom teeth are removed?
Foods You Can Safely Eat When Your Wisdom Teeth Have Been Removed
Recovery times vary from patient to patient, ranging from a few days to several weeks. During this time, the socket that once held the tooth is still healing, making it susceptible to infection and damage from hard, sharp foods. Food can get lodged in there too, so it’s best to stick to soft, nutritious foods that help you avoid complications and speed up your recovery time.
Soup
Blended soups are almost liquid, making them easy to consume without worrying about the effect they may have on your healing gums. You can make your own using fresh vegetables for maximum nutrition, or you can purchase ready-made soups when you’re on the go.
The most important thing to remember is that the best soups are those that have minimal lumps: think tomato, sweet potato, pumpkin – anything that can be blended to a smooth consistency.
Soup also has the added benefit of helping your body stay hydrated, an important factor in a successful recovery after surgery.
Similarly, you can make homemade bone broth as a source of essential nutrients needed to stay healthy. You can use bones left over from a family meal – chicken, turkey, beef, and fish are the most popular bone broth additions.
For best results, keep your soup at a lukewarm or cold temperature to prevent aggravating your wounds. Recovering tissue may be more sensitive to heat and cause discomfort or pain if hot soup touches it directly.
Scrambled Eggs
While soup is an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals, scrambled eggs are an ideal source of protein for a well-rounded diet during your recovery phase.
Eggs also contain vitamins and minerals that support your immune system and help your body heal. Because they’re slightly more ‘chewy’ than soup, add eggs to your diet a few days post-surgery, once you can chew a little better.
Bananas
Bananas are quite soft and easy to eat as they come. But to reduce the amount of chewing, which puts pressure on your other teeth, you can quickly mash them up in a bowl in the first days of recovery. Later, when you’re ready to start chewing again, this fruit is an excellent place to start.
If you want to combine the nutritious content of bananas with a soothing coolness to take the heat from your gums, why not try some banana ice cream? Save yourself future dental work by creating your own using mashed bananas and a milk of your choice. Place it in the freezer and enjoy this sweet, cool treat without all the added sugar of commercial products.
Hummus
Hummus is a chickpea-based Middle Eastern dip that’s soared in popularity in recent years. You can easily make your own using chickpeas, tahini (a sesame seed paste), olive oil, garlic, and lemon, or you can purchase ready-made at most supermarkets.
Hummus is blended into a very smooth consistency. It contains healthy fats and protein, as well as a range of vitamins and minerals that your body needs, especially during recovery after surgery.
What NOT To Eat After Your Wisdom Teeth Are Removed
All the best foods are cool, smooth, packed with vitamins and minerals, and great for your energy levels too.
That means that the foods you should avoid are typically:
- hot,
- spicy,
- crunchy,
- small, and
- excessively chewy.
While you may love seeds, nuts, and grains, it’s best to avoid them during your recovery. The small pieces are likely to get lodged in your gum, leading to inflammation, possible infection, and irritation. This goes for other hard foods too. When you chew, any small pieces of food can become a real pain if they get stuck; they can also scrape or scratch the healing tissue and aggravate the wound further.
During the first day of recovery, you may find your mouth feels numb from the anaesthetic. There’s a higher risk of biting your cheek or tongue while your mouth feels like this – and you don’t need another source of pain. Take care to avoid overly chewy foods, and save that steak for when you’ve fully healed!
In Summary – What To Eat When Your Wisdom Teeth Are Removed?
While changing your diet may sound like a hassle, just remember how much pain those wisdom teeth caused, and that the recovery period will be over soon.
Opt for soft, nutritious foods that are easy to swallow – minimal chewing is best, especially in the first few days. As you gradually introduce slightly chewier foods, avoid hard, crumbly textures, as well as small pieces like seeds and nuts. If these get stuck in your healing gum, it can cause more pain and irritation. Perhaps even a longer recovery time overall.
