What to eat when recovering from wisdom teeth removal

Soft foods are in, chewy or hard foods are out while you recover from wisdom teeth removal. Here, our Ottawa dentists give advice on which foods to stock up on and what to avoid.

If your dentist finds your wisdom teeth are impacted or coming in at crooked angles, they’ll often recommend having wisdom teeth removed and eating a healthful diet full of soft foods while you heal.

Though your schedule may vary depending on your dentist’s recommendations and other factors, we’ve put together a general timeline of what to eat at different stages of recovery - and answered the important question of when you’ll be able to get back to your regular diet.

Why maintain good self-care and eat soft, healthy foods after wisdom teeth are removed?

While having your wisdom teeth removed is a common procedure, maintaining a healthy diet full of soft foods, following instructions from your dentist and managing self-care are important to healing. You’ll want to avoid infections or complications, which can result from food or bacteria becoming trapped in the extraction area.

What can I eat after having my wisdom teeth removed?

For 3 to 5 Days

Generally, you’ll want to stick to liquids and soft, mushy foods for 3 to 5 days, including:

• Blended soups (easy to eat, nutrient-rich and hydrating)
• Broths (full of essential vitamins and minerals to aid recovery)
• Yogurt
• Pudding
• Smoothies
• Potatoes (mashed, sweet or regular)
• Apple sauce
• Seedless, pureed fruit
• Pureed or mashed vegetables (carrots, squash)
• Banana ice cream or regular ice cream
• Jell-O

As you begin to heal, gradually incorporate more regular, semi-soft foods such as:

• Scrambled eggs
• Macaroni and cheese
• Instant oatmeal
• Toast

Let any hot foods cool before eating, keep the area clean per your dentist’s recommendations, and don’t forget to take prescriptions as directed.

Which foods should I avoid?

For 1 Week or More

For the first few days, the extraction site will be tender and vulnerable to infection. You’ll want to avoid foods that may irritate the area or lead to complications, such as:

• Acidic, tough or spicy foods (citrus juice, peppers)
• Crumbly, crunchy or tough foods (pizza, jerky, popcorn, hamburgers, etc.)
• Grains (rice, quinoa)
• Alcohol
• Seeds

For 2 to 4 weeks

These snack foods may be delicious. However, you should ban them from your diet until you're fully recovered. These can get stuck in the wound and disrupt healing.

Other Helpful Routines

For 3 to 5 Days

Avoid using a straw and spitting for 3 to 5 days after surgery. These create suction in your mouth, which raises the risk of developing dry socket - a painful condition where the clot that protects the area your tooth is removed from becomes dislodged. This exposes your bones and nerves to air, which hampers healing and causes pain.

Avoid smoking for 5 days, as the nicotine in cigarettes impedes healing and prolongs recovery time. Avoid chewing tobacco for at least a week.

One Week After Surgery

At the 7-day mark following your surgery, start to rinse your extraction sites to rid the area of debris and food (your dentist may provide a syringe for this). Do not rinse before this as you may also remove the healing blood clot.

When can I start eating normal food after wisdom teeth extraction?

Many patients find they can resume normal eating within a week of having their wisdom teeth removed.

Maintaining a diet full of soft, delicious and healthy foods in the days and weeks after wisdom teeth removal is crucial to your recovery. As long as you stick to the right foods - and steer clear of foods that can disrupt your recovery - you’ll feel more comfortable and help reduce your risk of infection.

Are you experiencing jaw pain or swelling, red or swollen gums, or bad breath? You may need your wisdom teeth removed. Contact our Ottawa dentists to book an appointment today.

If you're preparing for an upcoming wisdom teeth removal surgery, you are likely to have questions about the surgery and recovery process, and what will I be able to eat after wisdom teeth removal? A key component to making your recovery from this routine procedure as quick and seamless as possible is understanding post-surgical care and the best post-surgery diet for yourself.

For people between the ages of 17 and 25, "wisdom teeth," a common term used to refer to third molars in the back of the mouth, often grow in impacted or at an angle and cause several other issues that could make it necessary for their extraction. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (AAOMS) recommends patients have their wisdom teeth out if there is an active infection present in the form of gum disease, irreparable tooth decay, or the emergence of cysts or tumors around the tooth. Also, if an impacted wisdom tooth damages the neighboring teeth, it's best to extract it to prevent further harm.

A dental X-ray will determine if wisdom teeth removal is appropriate. It will also establish the number of wisdom teeth needing removal.

Once your wisdom teeth have been removed and you've been sent home from the dentist's or oral surgeon's office, you'll have a bit of recovering to do. Patients generally leave with wet gauze pressed against the area where the teeth were, with the intent of stimulating a clot to slow the natural bleeding that occurs. This clot will morph into the healing tissue, filling the hole in your gum and bone.

To avoid a dry socket, which Mayo Clinic warns can prolong healing and be quite uncomfortable, care must be taken not to disrupt the clot itself. For this reason, you'll be advised to avoid sucking motions (like drinking through a straw) and smoking, as these actions can indeed hinder the healing clot.

Since one or more anesthetic agents will be used during the extraction, your mouth will feel numb for some time after surgery. Once you've returned home and are resting, it's important to be mindful of the types of foods and drinks you consume to prevent any damage or sensations of pain when you do regain feeling in your mouth.

To avoid burning your mouth while it's still numb, steer clear of hot foods and drinks. Be mindful that it's easy to bite your tongue, cheek, or lips during this recovery period, so it's best to keep away from chewy foods and hard, crunchy foods such as chips and hard pretzels – along with small sharp foods like popcorn with hulls to avoid gum irritation. As you'd expect, spicy foods should also be avoided, as these could lead to further gum sensitivity or stomach upset.

Nutrition is a key component of the reparative process following dental surgery. Like your dentist would recommend at a routine check-up that a well-rounded diet is imperative to your oral health, the same goes for a post-surgery diet. Along with drinking plenty of water, you'll want to eat the best foods for wisdom teeth removal that will be both nutritious and comforting to your mouth. The following foods will provide important vitamins and nutrients for recovery and are easy to chew and swallow:

• Yogurt
• Cottage cheese
• Apple sauce
• Avocados
• Fruit smoothies (with seedless fruit)
• Scrambled eggs
• Soft fish
• Finely cut meats
• Mashed potatoes
• Oatmeal
• Thin soups

It's best to stick to these items for four to seven days following your oral surgery, as noted in Medical News Today, plan by stocking up with these foods before your surgery and avoid a diet consisting of store-bought items that are processed or contain added sugars.

Gentle cleansing and rinsing as directed by your dental professional will be an important aspect of your healing process. Choose a flexible toothbrush with ultra-forgiving, super-thin bristles to clean between your teeth and under the gumline without harming the stitched areas or healing tissue.

As a person continues to grow in their late teens and early twenties, the extraction of wisdom teeth can prove necessary to one's dental health. And while wisdom teeth removal is important, it's imperative to know the foods to eat post-surgery (and what to stay away from) for a quick recovery. Before surgery, you can familiarize yourself with more tips for recovery and gain a deeper understanding of what to expect before the procedure.