What Can I Eat After Dental Oral Surgery?

After any kind of oral surgical procedure, one of the most important recovery tips is to only eat soft foods but it isn’t always clear which foods that includes.

Safe to eat meals after dental surgery include foods that do not require a lot of chewing such as:

• Fruit smoothies or protein shakes
• Soft fruits such as bananas or berries
• Rice
• Ice cream
• Jello or pudding
• Oatmeal
• Applesauce
• Soft scrambled eggs
• Steamed softened vegetables
• Mashed potatoes
• Soft cooked pasta

Heavy chewing or hard food particles can cause blood clots to open and other irritations to occur which slow down the recovery process. For this reason, it is imperative that you avoid eating anything that is crunchy, hard, or sticky such as gummy bears, granola, or a toasted bagel. Hot beverages such as coffee and tea should also be avoided as part of the healing process.

When Can I Eat Normal Food After Oral Surgery?

Based on the type and intensity of your specific procedure, your recovery time may vary. Your doctor will provide specific after care instructions for you to follow.

After the 24 hour period you may find that trying to eat hard foods still proves difficult or even causes irritation. As long as you are consuming the proper nutrients you can remain on a soft food diet until you feel comfortable. If irritation continues for multiple days, it may be time to contact your dentist and schedule a follow up appointment.

Can I Get Proper Nutrition from Soft Foods?

Smoothies and shakes are excellent and versatile ways to get many different nutrients in an easy to eat meal following dental surgery; however, you cannot use a straw to consume them.  Vegetables include potassium, fiber, and many different essential vitamins such as vitamin A which helps vision and the immune system, vitamin E which helps blood and skin health, and Vitamin C which helps protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Similarly, fruits provide a wealth of different healthy and essential vitamins and minerals. For added benefit, you may choose to add a protein source such as a powder or peanut butter which can help you to feel fuller for longer decreasing the amount of snacking you do throughout the day and decreasing the risk of irritating your surgical site.

How to Recover Faster After Oral Surgery

Eating properly is only one part of the recovery process. After your procedure you should also keep several other recovery tips in mind.

Take All Antibiotics Prescribed

If your doctor provided you with any antibiotics after your treatment, be sure to take all of them. Do not stop once you feel better but use all that were prescribed. Just because you are feeling better does not mean that all the bacteria has gone away. Stopping treatment early will leave behind some bacteria which can develop resistance, strengthen, or even grow back causing infection.

Apply Ice Packs to the affected area

On the outside of your mouth, you can gently apply an ice pack or cold compress for around 15 minutes at a time. Just like elsewhere on the body, utilizing ice packs can help to reduce swelling in the mouth and speed up recovery time following oral surgery.

Avoid alcohol

One of the larger risks following oral surgery such as wisdom tooth removal is the potential to develop dry socket. Blood clot formation is vital during the healing process as it covers the area and acts as a shield against bacteria and other foreign contaminants. Alcohol can disrupt blood clot formation and makes it easier to develop dry socket.

Drink Water

Staying hydrated is always important especially when your body is recovering from injury, sickness, or surgical procedures including dental surgery. Drinking the proper amount of water after surgery can help flush toxins and move oxygen around the body as well which all can work towards helping you have a faster recovery. Additionally, drinking the proper amount of water helps with mood regulation and your body will thank you for it.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you are in need of oral surgery such as tooth removal, our convenient hours and skilled dental team can ensure you receive the best dental treatment with minimal risks. The skilled dental professionals at Dental365 want to help. Call us today at 844.365.DENTAL or request an appointment through our website at any time.