After wisdom teeth removal, you’ll need to watch what you eat to avoid disturbing the surgery site. To help you recover quickly, here’s a brief guide to safe eating after teeth extraction.

What to Eat

The first 24 hours after your surgery are when your mouth will be the most sensitive. Limit your diet to liquids and soft foods that don’t require chewing. Examples include pureed soups, ice cream, yogurt, applesauce, and mashed potatoes, so long as none of them have pieces in them that require chewing or can get stuck in the surgery socket. You could even try baby food to ensure you get appropriate nutrients.

After roughly 48 hours or when you’re comfortable with chewing, you can progress to more solid foods that require minimal chewing, like macaroni and cheese, steamed vegetables, and boiled meats. You should be able to eat more freely after a week of a monitored diet.

What to Avoid

For the first few days, avoid hot liquids like tea, coffee, or hot soups, as they can stimulate blood flow, increase swelling, and cause discomfort. Avoid alcoholic beverages for the same reasons; they can also interact with any pain medication you’re taking.

For the first week after surgery, avoid sticky, hard, crunchy, and chewy foods, as they’re more likely to dislodge the protective blood clot in the socket or become stuck in it.

Best Methods for Eating

How you eat affects the surgical site too. Don’t use a straw for 24 hours after your procedure or smoke cigarettes because the sucking action can dislodge the clot and cause a dry socket. After 24 hours, you can gently rinse your mouth to clear out any food particles.

Try to keep food away from the surgical site while eating. In the first week after the procedure, try to chew on the opposite side from the surgical site. If you had teeth removed on both sides, chew with the front of your mouth.

If you need wisdom teeth removal, turn to Oral Surgery Associates of Alaska in Anchorage. With over a decade of experience each, their board-certified surgeons perform teeth extractions while ensuring optimal healing and minimized discomfort. They boast cutting-edge technology, such as the I-CAT 3D Imaging CT machine, and offer complex procedures like jaw reconstruction and bone grafting. Learn more about wisdom teeth on their website, and schedule a consultation by calling (907) 561-1430.