Having your wisdom teeth removed is painful enough, but eating after wisdom teeth removal can sometimes be worse than the procedure itself. Your dentist will likely tell you to stick to soft foods and liquids for the first twenty-four hours after an extraction. Figuring out what foods are safe will help speed your recovery and reduce post extraction pain.
For most people, cold liquids will help reduce swelling and pain. Try to avoid very sugary or high acid drinks, because these can irritate the raw flesh in and around the extraction site. Milkshakes, cold tea, and sugar free slush drinks are all good cold drink choices.
Lukewarm beverages may also reduce pain, especially for those with sensitive teeth. Warm coffee, tea, and clear soups soothe nerve pain, which may become worse after an extraction. Avoid very hot drinks, which may make the pain worse.
Safe foods include mashed potatoes, soups and soft stews, cooked fruits, baked fish, and pasta dishes which don’t need much chewing. Scrambled eggs, omelets, and hard boiled eggs are safe breakfast choices. Oatmeal, soft cooked cereals, and bananas are usually safe breakfast options as well.
Cream soups, noodle soups, and soft stews are good lunch and dinner choices. Canned beef stew is usually safe, but may need to be cooked to soften the meat instead of just heated. Avoid soups and stews which contain rice, large pieces of spices, chewy grains, and dumplings. Even though dumplings are technically a soft food, they can compress into a hard, gluey ball during chewing.
Other safe foods include applesauce, ice cream, ice pops, gelatin desserts, sugar free puddings, and soft cooked chicken, lamb, and pork. Any food you can swallow without chewing is safe after a dental extraction. Just be sure that you take very small bites to reduce the risk of choking.
What you do after you eat is just as important as what you eat after wisdom tooth removal. Your dentist will give you instructions on caring for your teeth after an extraction. You will likely be told to use a gentle salt water rinse for the first twelve hours after your appointment. Afterward, you may use a gentle mouthwash as recommended by your dentist. Brush your teeth gently for the first few days, and avoid brushing over the extraction site. Proper oral hygiene after tooth extraction will help prevent gingivitis and other oral infections. Redness, swelling, fever, and excessive pain may be signs of infection, so report these symptoms to your dentist immediately to avoid complications.
