When can you eat regular food after wisdom tooth extraction

When can you eat regular food after wisdom tooth extraction

At Hill Country Oral Surgery, we understand that wisdom teeth removal can be a complicated procedure. It involves a minor surgery that can be distressing for many patients and has a recovery time that can last up to seven days. During this time, patients usually feel discomfort. They need to modify many aspects of their routine, including work, leisure, and physical activity. Still, we consider that the most drastic changes are usually made in patients’ diets.

Although each patient is different and our surgeon will give specific recommendations according to the particular case, as a general rule, we advise patients to wait at least seven days to incorporate solid foods into their diet. Hard foods can interfere with recovery and disrupt the healing process, and as the main idea of this diet is to enable patients to go back to normal as soon as possible, we strongly recommend those who undergo this procedure follow this advice.

Why Do I Need to Avoid Solids After the Surgery?

The reason is simple: solid foods can injure the recovery site provoking pain, bleeding, or even the dislodge of the blood clot. This latter scenario is the one that worries dentists the most. The blood clot has a crucial role in the wound’s healing process, and if it is accidentally dislodged, it can lead to a dry socket, a painful infection that can make patients see the stars.

Luckily, you can avoid this shooting pain and prevent all these inconveniences by following a soft diet for a week (or until the wound is completely healed). This might be challenging and a bit unhandy, but it is the only way to ensure effective healing.

What Can I Eat in the Meantime?

We always provide some guidance regarding what to eat or drink after an extraction. At first, cold or warm (not hot) soft foods are recommended, like smoothies, soup, jelly, yogurt, and mashed potatoes. Ice cream is also highly advisable, as the cold can also help reduce inflammation and pain.

As the wound heals and you feel better, you can slowly introduce other foods to your diet, like oatmeal and scrambled eggs. You should always monitor how you feel after the meals and then evaluate if you’re doing fine or would rather go back to softer foods.

A few more recommendations…

Besides solids, other foods and habits can dislodge the blood clot and interrupt the healing process. It would be best if, after surgery, you avoid:

  • smoking
  • using a straw
  • chewing gum
  • strong physical activity
  • lifting heavyweight
  • whistling

If you are looking to have your wisdom teeth removed, or still have some doubts about post-op indications or the procedure itself, contact our team! Our dentists will explain the step-by-step in detail and answer all your questions.

The final sets of the molar to rise after the age of 15-16 are the wisdom teeth. Being latecomers, they often create problems, and in most situations, they occur at crooked angles. To make their place, they push existing teeth and cause decay, infection, and inflammation close by tissues and gums. Hence, removing wisdom teeth is the only solution to these problems; however, there is a need for adequate care after the procedure. When it comes to diet plans, people often wonder when can I eat after wisdom teeth removal. Though schedules may vary depending on the oral condition, whatever is best for you after the surgery will be recommended.

When can I eat after wisdom teeth removal?

Having a healthy diet is necessary for both gums and teeth, though it has to be soft so that you don’t require much chewing after surgery. Have food with no chance of getting fixed between the teeth or gums, mostly where surgery is done. Good oral hygiene will discourage bacterial growth and avoid complications and the spread of infections. Few hours after the surgery, you can have soup, yogurt, ice cream, or smoothies, but be careful it is not too hot. Besides, the use of straw is prohibited after teeth removal. For the next few days, the diet plan can have;

  • Warm soups and broth rich in nutrition and vitamins to speed up the recovery.
  • Soft bread, cereals, and oatmeals are an excellent choice at breakfasts.
  • Dairy items like yogurt, milkshakes, custard, pudding, scrambled eggs, etc.
  • Soft and pureed fruits and veggies like bananas or boiled potatoes; also remove seeds, if any, before having as they might fix in between the teeth.
  • Macaroni and cheese is a healthy option that can fill in your appetite.

Foods to avoid after wisdom tooth removal

For the next few days or a week, try to remove the following foods and beverages from your plan as they might cause dental problems.

  • Foods those are acidic, hard, and spicy. These react inside the mouth and release unwanted substances that might harm your empty sockets.
  • Hard food includes crisps, chewy bread, and pizza crust.
  • Alcohol, fizzy drinks, and other alcoholic beverages
  • Hard fruits and veggies and those that have seeds in them

However, after two weeks or so, you can have crisp, popcorn, and nuts but slowly and carefully. Try not to smoke or chew tobacco for a few more days until the area heals entirely as the chemicals can react. If the blood clot damages, it can result in extreme pain, and healing time increases, causing many problems. Besides, be careful that the debris doesn’t come in contact with the clot.

How long after wisdom teeth removal can I eat normally?

If everything goes typically and the area heals up properly within a week or so after the surgery, you can continue eating normally. However, some care is still necessary for healthy oral teeth as complete recovery is crucial else it can have adverse effects. So, when can I eat after wisdom teeth removal depends on your oral health.

Is your wisdom tooth causing problems, visit us for your oral solution. To schedule your appointment at Vintage Oral Surgery, call (281)8008852 .

How long after wisdom teeth removal can I eat normal food?

Ultimately, every patient can take a different amount of time to heal fully, and we encourage you to slowly introduce foods based on your comfort level. Most sockets take about 6 weeks to heal fully following dental surgery, and you should be back to mostly normal eating habits within 3-4 weeks post-procedure.

What can I eat 7 days after wisdom teeth removal?

You should eat only soft foods for the first week: for example, soups, eggs, mashed potatoes, and meatloaf are fine. For 2 weeks (8 weeks if you had lower wisdom teeth extracted), do not eat hard, crunchy, or very chewy foods, such as European breads, pizza crust, steak or jerky, nuts, or popcorn.

When can I start eating regular food after extraction?

You should normally forgo solid food for just 24 hours following your tooth extraction in Excelsior, MN, after which you may be able to resume eating again.