What To Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal in Las Vegas

Best Foods To Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal

The best foods for post-wisdom teeth removal are soft, nutrient-dense foods that are easy to swallow.

Strong, recovery-friendly options include yogurt, mashed potatoes, soups, broths, applesauce, scrambled eggs, and smoothies. You can also eat foods, like ice cream, which may be appetizing and soothing, but foods with lots of sugar and lacking a variety of nutrients should be eaten in moderation.

Especially for the first few days, cold foods may help with swelling. In some cases, you may also be able to use a cold pack or bag of ice wrapped in a towel on the outside of your cheek to help with this swelling, but check with your doctor for specific instructions.

When choosing foods, keep in mind that protein, vitamins, and minerals support tissue repair. A multi-vitamin supplement may be a good choice, and protein power shakes or bottled protein drinks can also be good choices. You can also consider meal replacement drinks for the elderly or for weight loss that contain balanced nutrition in drink form.

Foods for Day Zero to Day One

Immediately after surgery, consider lukewarm or cold liquid-to-pureed foods. Meal replacement drinks can be wonderfully helpful at this stage, as many people only have a small appetite. It’s important to eat at least a little bit though, as nutrition will support healing.

Good choices for this stage include:

• Broth
• Blended soups
• Applesauce
• Mashed bananas
• Yogurt
• Spoonable smoothies
• Meal replacement drinks

Remember, always avoid straws at this stage. You should also avoid very hot foods that may scald you or damage blood clots at the extraction site.

Foods for Day Two to Day Three

After the immediate recovery phase, you can begin adding more substance, if comfort allows.

Good choices at this stage include soft proteins and starches, such as:

• Scrambled eggs
• Mashed potatoes
• Soft pasta
• Soft fish

You may be able to eat steamed or otherwise well-cooked vegetables as well, and vegetarian proteins, like well-cooked lentils.

At this stage, it’s important to focus on easy-to-chew, low-irritation foods. Meals should still be soft enough to protect the surgical sites. Again, refrain from using straws and smoking, as this can cause your blood clots to dislodge.

Foods for Day Four to Day Seven

By the end of the first week, many patients can start to eat semi-soft foods. However, if there are complications with your procedure, such as dry sockets, you may have to continue eating soft and pureed foods for a few more days until you recover further.

During this phase, good options include:

• Finely chopped vegetables
• Soft noodles
• Tender cooked foods (in small pieces)

At this stage of recovery, it’s a good idea to test any new food you may want to eat in small batches. If you feel pain while eating or pain returns afterward, return to softer foods until your body has a chance to heal further.

Again, you should still refrain from using straws and smoking, if possible, at this stage.

Foods To Avoid While Healing

There are a number of foods you’ll want to avoid when healing. This includes foods that can slow the healing process or irritate the extraction sites, including:

• Very hot foods
• Spicy foods
• Crunchy foods
• Sticky foods
• Acidic foods
• Carbonated beverages

During recovery, you’ll also want to avoid alcohol, as it’s detrimental to recovery in several ways, including weakening your immune system and irritating the extraction site. You’ll also want to avoid highly caffeinated beverages, and if you can, beverages with an enormous amount of sugar, like soft drinks.

Straws, smoking, and other suction can dislodge blood clots and raise dry socket risk, so avoid these in every instance.

Finally, very hot drinks and foods can increase bleeding and discomfort. Try to only eat lukewarm foods, especially in the first few days.

Preventing Dry Sockets and Other Problems

A dry socket is a complication caused by losing the protective clot at the extraction site. It happens only to about 1% of people in modern times, but the numbers increase with certain factors, such as smoking.

Dry sockets are generally described as particularly painful. However, careful eating helps protect the extraction area and prevent complications.

If advised by your dentist or surgeon, a gentle saltwater rinse can be done after the first 24 hours of post-surgery. This can help clean the mouth and avoid infection. Use only lukewarm water and a teaspoon of salt per cup of water.

If your pain does not decrease a few days after the operation, or if it gets worse, you should contact our office. Likewise, if pain becomes severe or unusual, contact us right away. We are available the same day for emergencies such as these. 

Tips for Comfort and Nutrition

After wisdom teeth surgery, many people’s appetite is low. For proper healing to happen, you will need to eat. Eat small, frequent meals, and consider meal replacement drinks.

Other good options include protein shakes, smoothies, and soft foods that are high in calories and nutrients.

You can also choose foods, like ice cream, that may be more palatable and offer sufficient calories, but these foods should be balanced with others that provide significant nutrients as well. Always avoid flavors of ice cream with chunks or pieces of other foods in them, as this can damage the extraction site and be painful.

Also remember to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated will help you feel better, as well as promote healing. You should aim to drink at least three liters of fluid per day, slightly more for men.

Start Your Recovery With Confidence in Las Vegas

From general dentistry to oral surgery to orthodontics, Absolute Dental in Las Vegas is your best option for dentistry services. You are encouraged to contact us if you have any concerns about pain, swelling, or what you should eat.