What To Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal

For most of us, having your wisdom tooth (or teeth) removed isn’t at the top of our to-do lists.

But when wisdom teeth come knocking – or gradually pushing as the case may be, it’s important that you face facts and front up to your local dentist to have them removed to relieve any temporary pain and ensure you don’t run into bigger dental issues down the line.

For those that are preparing for wisdom tooth removal, now is the time to understand what you can (and can’t) eat in the days following the procedure. In this guide, we’ll run you through the do’s, don’ts and paint a picture on timeframes that you can expect before resuming your normal diet after wisdom tooth removal.

Why is it important to watch what I eat after wisdom tooth removal?

Before we jump into the how, let’s start with the why.

In the hours and days following wisdom tooth extraction, you’re likely to experience swelling in your mouth and cheeks. This swelling and general discomfort makes it difficult to eat solid foods and go about your normal routine. For most of us, wisdom tooth extraction will be followed by a few days of house detention as we heal, and our wounds start to mend.

In most cases, you won’t need to be told to stay away from hard foods – your body will be a constant source of reminder. However, when it comes to watching what you eat after wisdom tooth removal, there are a number of good reasons you need to be diligent:

• The right foods will promote healing and ensure a speedy recovery

• Avoiding certain foods reduces your risk of further damage or swelling

• Sticking to the right foods means avoiding infection which can lead to further complications

• The right nutrition can aid recovery. Your body is in a state of stress after wisdom tooth removal – fuelling it with the right food will aid and expedite recovery.

• Avoiding certain foods will help to prevent further damage which can result in a further trip to the dentist (or worse).

How long after wisdom tooth removal until I can eat?

It is not recommended to eat in the first 2-3 hours immediately following wisdom tooth removal. For most patients, they won’t need to be reminded of this fact – they simply won’t feel like eating due to numbness, swelling and general discomfort around in their mouth.

After the first 2-3 hours, patients can begin consuming soft foods at a regular interval to fuel sustenance and aid with recovery. The recovery period where patients will stick to soft foods and liquids after wisdom tooth removal will usually last for 48-hours.

After the first two days, your body will begin to guide you in the right direction around when it is ready to resume eating more normal foods. It is generally recommended that in the first week after wisdom tooth removal, patients should stick to soft foods while strictly avoiding any sharp or hard foods (think: chips, hard bread, crispy foods, nuts) that can irritate the wounds and potentially cause further bleeding.

What you can eat after wisdom tooth removal

In the first 48-hours to 7-days following your wisdom tooth extraction procedure, we recommend sticking to foods that require minimal chewing that will not irritate your wounds or cause further bleeding. For most patients, their diet after wisdom tooth removal will include:

1. Soups

Soups are one of the most popular foods for patients recovering from wisdom tooth removal – and for good reasons too. Soups can be as nutritious and delicious as your imagination will allow. In the first few days, it’s important to blend up any parts of the soup that may irritate the gums or potentially cause items to become lodged in the wound. Stick to smooth and easy to consume soups to avoid any irritation.

2. Broths

Just like soups, broths are an excellent way to ensure your body is getting the vitamins and minerals that are needed to support recovery. For pescetarian and vegetarian, there are plenty of broths that can provide the same nourishment as their carnivorous counterparts.

3. Yogurt

Yogurt is a staple of the post-wisdom tooth removal diet. We recommend avoiding high-sugar yogurts and sticking to natural and Greek yogurts that tick more of the nutritional boxes and are less likely to irritate the wounds.

4. Smoothies

 Just like soups, smoothies are a great way to make sure you’re fuelling your body for recovery. Smoothies are easy to consume and, for most of us, a more appealing option than soup first thing in the morning. There’s no shortage of recipes available online, so get stuck into some healthy and nutritious smoothies to ensure your body is getting the nourishment it needs to fuel recovery.

5. Mashed fruits and vegetables

 Mashed fruit, vegetables and organic produce are a simple and effective way to make sure you’re getting the right fuel in without needing to chew or risk damaging your gums.

6. Scrambled Eggs

Eggs are an excellent source of protein and, in scrambled form, an easy-to-consume staple of the post-wisdom tooth removal diet.

 7. Fruit-based Ice Cream

For something a little bit more interesting, there is a range of fruit-based ice creams that are low in sugar and can provide that much needed taste-hit to supplement your diet after wisdom tooth extraction.