Also known as your third molars, wisdom teeth are the last of your adult teeth to erupt from your gum line. They are notorious for causing a great deal of pain when they come in, simply because there isn’t enough room for them to develop or emerge properly.
If they become stuck or partially break the gumline, not only can they become infected but they can cause issues with teeth alignment, gum swelling, jaw pain, and even put you at the risk for cysts. Wisdom teeth extraction is often recommended to individuals between the ages of 17-25 and requires you to adopt a soft food diet for a minimum of one week after surgery.
Why Is a Soft Food Diet Required During Recovery?
A soft food diet is required for at least one week after surgery to help you heal faster and to avoid irritating the extraction site(s). When your wisdom teeth are removed, there will be a pocket of open space where your tooth was sitting under the gumline which must heal over.
If you eat chewy or hard foods, you risk the food becoming trapped in the extraction sites which leads to soft tissue damage and infections.
Which Foods Are Safe to Eat For Days 1-6 After Wisdom Teeth Extraction?
During the first 24-hours, it is extremely important to stay away from solid foods altogether. We recommend that you stick to nutritious liquids that ensure you are hydrated.
For the first 24-hours, the following foods are safe:
- All flavors of broth - has the vitamin and minerals needed to boost recovery.
- Blended soups - hydrating & and easy to eat.
- Smoothies - avoid mixing in fruit with seeds.
- Pureed fruit - seedless.
- Pureed vegetables.
- Jello & ice cream.
After the first 24-hours, you can start to eat some foods that have a little bit more substance to them on days 2-4. This can include items like pudding, yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, soups, and anything from the 24-hour list is also acceptable.
Once you hit day 5, you may be able to start incorporating more semi-soft foods, such as cream of wheat, instant oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, as well as scrambled eggs.
What to Avoid 1-Week After Wisdom Teeth Surgery?
Around day 6, you’re going to have a lot less swelling and may find that it is easier to chew food. However, this isn’t always a sign that you can go right back to regular eating.
You will want to avoid the following until your extraction sites are fully healed.
- Alcoholic beverages. These irritate the area and react negatively to medications.
- Grains that can easily become trapped in the sockets (rice, quinoa, seeds).
- Chewy foods such as jerky, chips, and nuts. These can open up stitches.
- Acidic or spicy foods that may cause pain & irritation.
It is very important that during this time, you do not consume liquids with a straw, allow food to sit on the incision site(s), or partake in smoking for 72-hours after surgery.
If you’d like to learn more about wisdom teeth extraction, check the condition of your teeth, or maybe even make some cosmetic enhancements, feel free to get in touch today.
