- Wisdom Teeth Removal
- August 25, 2023
- by lotus
Even though wisdom teeth extractions are performed every day, so many patients are fearful of the procedure and its aftermath. Knowing what to eat after your wisdom teeth are removed can help you with recovery, so you can keep your energy levels up while you manage swelling and discomfort. Let’s take a closer look at what you should and shouldn’t be eating after wisdom teeth removal.
The Most Common Side Effects Of Wisdom Teeth Removal
The wisdom teeth are located at the back of your mouth, and depending on how far they have erupted, can be tricky to access. While the procedure is relatively painless when performed under anaesthetic, you may experience some common side effects after your wisdom teeth removal. These include
Swelling
Applying a cold compress to the outside of your cheek can help you to manage swelling and inflammation so that you can eat soft foods and drink plenty of fluids.
Bleeding
It is quite normal to experience a little bleeding after wisdom teeth removal, especially a day or two after the extraction.
Pain and discomfort
You may experience some discomfort once the anaesthetic has worn off and sensation has returned to your mouth. Most patients find the pain and discomfort easy to manage with over the counter pain medication.
What To Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removed?
There is no reason to deprive yourself of food after wisdom teeth removal. Even though your diet may be limited, there is plenty that you can eat if you think creatively and plan your meals according to their nutritional content. This is important because you need to stay strong and healthy while you recover.
Soups
Liquidising yourself some vegetable soup or making some bone broth is a great way to ensure you get your daily dose of vegetables, vitamins and fibre.
There are so many different soups that you can make, it can easily become a staple of your post-operative recovery diet.
Soft vegetables like avocado, butternut, mashed potatoes and mashed vegetables are good additions to include in your diet after wisdom teeth removal.
Smoothies and juices
Juicing fresh fruit and vegetables can boost your health as you recover, and adds a flavourful component to breakfast.
Scrambled eggs
Eggs are a great source of protein and when they are scrambled, they are delicious and easy to eat.
Ice cream and yoghurt
Eating cold yoghurt and ice cream can give you some comfort while you are recovering, and may soothe an irritated mouth.
Porridge
You can still start your day with the most important meal of the day: breakfast. Porridge oats and grains will ensure you feel full throughout the day, have slow-release carbohydrates to keep your energy levels up and are easy to eat especially after wisdom tooth extractions.
Tips To Survive Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Try to eat a little at a time, but eat frequent meals. This will ensure you have energy throughout the day, even if you don’t feel that hungry.
Chew and bite on the opposite side of your mouth to your wisdom tooth extractions so that the side with the wound has a chance to heal. If you are having wisdom teeth removal on both sides of your jaw, your diet may be a little more restricted, and you may need to eat much softer foods.
Avoid foods that are very spicy, very chewy or crunchy and foods that are very hot. These foods can cause irritation at the wound, or cause the blood clot to dislodge, resulting in a very painful condition called dry socket. Dry socket takes a long time to heal and can make wisdom teeth removal very uncomfortable. You should also avoid foods that have small grains and seeds, as these can also irritate the wound.
Make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol and caffeine on the day of and day after your wisdom tooth extractions but make sure you have plenty of water or diluted juices.
You can expect to eat soft foods for at least the first week after wisdom teeth removal. Once your wound has healed, and the swelling and bleeding have stopped, you can gradually introduce other foods to your diet.
Avoid tea and coffee as drinking hot beverages can result in the dislodging of the blood clot. You will also avoid using a straw for a week or so for the same reason.
If you still have questions about wisdom teeth removal or want to know more about what to eat after your wisdom teeth are removed please contact us for an appointment : (03) 8737 9359.