Wisdom teeth removal can be painful and difficult, especially since the patient cannot eat their normal diet for a while after wisdom teeth removal. The most common question patients ask is: What to eat after wisdom teeth removal? We will tell you what to eat and what to avoid after wisdom teeth removal to help you recover faster.

The Importance of Good Nutrition After Wisdom Tooth Extraction

After wisdom teeth are extracted, there will be some swelling around the mouth and cheeks. Applying an ice pack can help reduce swelling. Your doctor will usually also recommend some painkillers to help reduce pain. However, eating smart can help reduce the complications of surgery and speed up recovery.

On one hand, eating well helps your body to gain essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to repair the tissues in your mouth after surgery. Eating a balanced diet of soft, nutritious foods provides the building blocks for healing and tissue regeneration. On the other hand, proper nutrition supports your immune system, helping your body fight off potential infections at the surgical sites.

First Day Food

In the first 24 hours after wisdom tooth removal, it is best to eat very soft foods, require absolutely no chewing and won’t irritate the surgical sites. You’d better focus on Liquids like water, clear broth (make sure it’s not hot), diluted and non-acidic Juices (avoid citrus juices like orange or grapefruit as they can irritate the extraction sites.)

Soft foods can also be a good choice. Jell-O, milkshakes (without a straw), smoothies (without a straw and no small seeds), mashed bananas, and plain yogurt (smooth, no chunks or granola) are some of the best things to eat after wisdom teeth removal.

Important Reminders for the First 24 Hours

To prevent bleeding from the wound and irritation of your gums in the first 24 hours, keep these tips in mind.

• Do not use straws. The sucking motion can dislodge the blood clots, leading to a painful dry socket.

• Avoid hot foods and drinks. Heat can increase blood flow and potentially disrupt clot formation. 

• Avoid spicy and acidic foods. These can irritate the surgical sites.   

• Do not chew. Stick to liquids and foods that require absolutely no chewing.

• Drink fluids regularly throughout the day, and stay hydrated.

Follow your dentist or oral surgeon’s instructions. If you experience any pain or discomfort when trying to eat something, stop and stick to the recommended liquids.   

Foods to Eat in the Next 10 Days

It is important to know what to eat after wisdom teeth removal. Once you’ve passed the initial 24 hours after wisdom teeth removal, you can gradually start to incorporate slightly more substantial soft foods that require minimal chewing. The key is still to be gentle and avoid anything that could disrupt the healing process. We have prepared a list of wisdom teeth recovery foods for you:

1. Smooth Oatmeal (without any hard mix-ins like nuts or seeds)

2. Mashed Potatoes (Ensure there are no lumps)   

3. Soft Cooked Pasta (small shapes and no spicy ingredients)   

4. Soft Tofu

7. Well-Cooked and Shredded Chicken or Fish

8. Soft Lukewarm Soups (with small, soft noodles or finely chopped vegetables)

9. Cottage Cheese

10. Well-Cooked Rice (very soft and mushy)

11. Pancakes 

12. Steamed and Mashed Vegetables

13. Scrambled Eggs

You can eat smooth foods, but you still need to be cautious about chewing. Continue to chew on the opposite side of your mouth from the extraction sites as much as possible, and stick to lukewarm or cool foods to avoid irritation.

Hard, crunchy, or chewy foods can irritate the wound site. Be mindful of foods with small seeds, grains, or other bits that could get lodged in the extraction areas. Last but not least, continue to avoid highly acidic or spicy foods that could cause discomfort.

Over the next few days, you can gradually introduce more textures as your comfort level increases. Pay attention to how your mouth feels after eating different foods. If something causes pain or discomfort, go back to softer options.

Foods to avoid after wisdom tooth removal

Now that you know what to eat after wisdom teeth are removed, it’s time to know some foods to avoid after wisdom tooth removal. Here’s a breakdown of what you should avoid.

• Chewing Foods. Anything that requires significant chewing should be avoided, especially in the initial days.

• Hard and Crunchy Foods including nuts, chips, popcorn, hard candies, raw vegetables, and crusty bread.

• Crumby foods can get stuck in the extraction sockets and are difficult to clean out.

• Spicy foods can irritate the delicate gum tissue and cause discomfort.

• Acidic foods like citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, and vinegar-based dressings.

• Alcohol can interfere with the healing process and increase the risk of infection, and interact with pain medication.   

• Cigarettes (and all tobacco products) increase the risk of complications like dry socket and infection by hindering the healing process. 

Post-operative recovery timelines

Overall, the recovery period for Holistic & Biological wisdom tooth extraction is not very long or painful. The timeline for returning to a normal diet after wisdom teeth removal varies from person to person, depending on the extent of the surgery, individual healing speed, and how well you follow post-operative instructions.

Initial recovery takes around 3-7 days. In this period, many people can start to introduce more semi-soft foods that require a little more chewing, such as soft pasta, well-cooked rice, and shredded tender meats. However, you still need to be cautious and chew on the opposite side of your mouth. By one week, if your healing is progressing well and you have minimal pain and swelling, you might be able to try incorporating more solid foods.

What to eat 10 days after wisdom teeth removal includes solid foods. In around two weeks, most people can gradually return to their normal diet. However, it’s still advisable to be cautious with very hard, crunchy, or chewy foods for a little longer.

Get Food Out Of Wisdom Teeth Holes

To minimize food getting stuck, stick to a soft diet as recommended and try to chew on the opposite side of your mouth during the initial healing phase to make this less of a problem. This will help you have fewer problems. 

However, it is common that foods get stuck in the wisdom tooth socket after a wisdom tooth extraction. If this happens, the first and most common recommended method is to gently rinse with salt water. Swish the salt water solution around your mouth, focusing on the extraction site, and then let it drain into the sink instead of spitting it out forcefully. Start doing this the day after surgery and continue for about a week, especially after meals.

Rinsing your mouth with lukewarm herbal tea can also be effective. Some herbal teas, such as chamomile, green tea, or turmeric, have anti-inflammatory properties that can also help to dislodge food. Use it in the same way as you would a saltwater rinse.

Do not use your fingers or sharp objects to remove food, as this can introduce bacteria and damage healing tissues or dislodge the blood clot. For the first few days, do not swish or spit vigorously in your mouth, as this can also dislodge the vital blood clot and lead to a dry socket.

Fast Recovery After Wisdom Tooth Extraction

The most important question for people who have their wisdom teeth extracted is what to eat after wisdom teeth removal. So, to wrap it up, focusing on a diet of soft, easy-to-chew foods in the initial days after wisdom teeth removal is key for comfortable and efficient healing. 

Smashed banana, non-acidic Juices, scrambled eggs, and Greek yogurt are some of the best wisdom teeth recovery foods you can choose. Steer clear of anything hard, crunchy, spicy, acidic, or crumbly, and avoid alcohol and smoking to minimize the risk of complications like infection or dry socket. No worries, you’ll be back to enjoying all your favorite foods before you know it.

Do You Need More Help?

This article has covered the foods you need to eat after wisdom teeth removal. However, every individual might face different challenges during their recovery time. If you are still not sure what to eat, or if there is something that just seems off with the extraction site, Aria Dental in Orange County, California can help you. We are a holistic and biological dental office, and our main goal is to provide services that won’t harm your body in the long run. Contact us today for a consultation so our team of professionals help you with all you need.