What can you eat after your wisdom teeth are removed?
Thankfully, you don’t have to stick with just broths, soups, or pudding. There are a variety of good, healthy foods you can eat. However, there are stages you should follow to facilitate your healing.
No matter what, chew slowly and gently while also drinking plenty of water.
First 24 hours
For the first 24 hours after wisdom teeth removal focus on cool or room-temperature liquids. Think water, electrolyte drinks, cool broths, and maybe protein shakes (assuming they have no grainy powders or small particles within them). But do not use a straw.
You can also eat very smooth foods: yogurt, pudding, and gelatin.
Days 2-3
At this point, you can add soft foods that don’t require much chewing: applesauce, mashed potatoes, mashed bananas, soft scrambled eggs, well-blended smoothies, and ice cream. Now the smoothies and the ice cream should not have any seeds, nuts, or crunchy mix-ins.
Days 3-5
After around 3 to 5 days, you can introduce soft foods that require light chewing. Things like very soft pasta, soft rice, well-cooked vegetables, and soft fish like salmon.
Days 5-7
Here you can add soft sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, and tender ground meats. Again, stay away from nuts, seeds, and crusty, hard bread.
How long do you have to eat soft foods after wisdom teeth removal?
Most people can return to a normal diet (and start using straws again) at around 7-10 days. However, a conservative recommendation would be to stay on the softer foods list above for about 2 weeks.
What’s important is that you can chew without pain or while disturbing the extraction sites. So if you feel anything getting back in your extraction sites or causing you pain, contact us immediately. Pain is your body’s way of warning you.
What foods should you absolutely avoid after your wisdom teeth removal?
- Crunchy foods: chips, nuts, popcorn, pretzels, raw vegetables, or crusty bread.
- Sticky or chewy foods: gum, caramel, bagels, or tough meats
- Hard foods: steak, crusty bread, or seeds.
- Irritants: spicy food, citrus, or sodas.
- Things that dehydrate you (drink plenty of water and stay hydrated): coffee, energy drink, and some teas.
What are the risks of eating the wrong thing after wisdom teeth removal?
After wisdom teeth are removed, you are left with extraction sockets. Basically holes in your gums that need time to heal. Initially, your body produces a protective blood clot to hide the otherwise exposed bone and nerves.
- Suction with the mouth can dislodge this blood clot. So avoid using straws at all!
- Sticky foods like gum or caramel can also dislodge the clot.
- Hard, crunchy foods like potato chips and nuts can lead to infection, bleeding, and/or irritation.
- Spicy or acidic foods like hot sauces or citrus fruits can inflame the healing tissues.
- Carbonated beverages like soda can dissolve the clots and irritate the extraction sockets.
- Hot foods like fresh coffee can also dissolve and irritate the extraction sockets.
- Foods that dehydrate you like alcohol or energy drinks can slow your healing. Remember to drink plenty of water!
