Not knowing what to eat during the healing phase after a dental implant or surgery and after taking out your wisdom teeth can cause serious issues. Different kinds of food are suitable for eating after dental surgery, but you should always follow your dentist’s advice in this regard. Following some surgeries, dentists recommend consuming liquids for a certain amount of time and moving towards soft foods after that.
This article helps you understand soft foods and provides detailed information about soft foods you should consume and the foods you should avoid after oral surgery for quick wound healing.
Comprehending Soft Foods
Soft foods are visually soft and easy to chew and swallow. They can take different forms, such as chop, mash, or puree, and have suitable sizes and creamy textures. You can consume different kinds of soft foods, which contain more nutrients.
Soft Foods to Consume After an Oral Surgery
There are diverse choices of soft foods that you can take based on your taste and likes. The following are some of the soft foods which are good to consume after dental surgery and help quicken the healing process:
· Blended Soups
After taking out your wisdom teeth, you should have blended pumpkin or tomato soups as they can be eaten easily and do not contain any pieces that could hurt the wound where the surgery was performed. Additionally, soups contain a lot of minerals and vitamins, from which you can get sufficient nutrients daily. It is important to stay well-hydrated after the surgery, and this requirement can also be fulfilled with blended soups.
· Bone Broth Soup
Drinking bone broth soup is very beneficial and one of the most effective foods after dental surgery. This tasty soup contains various minerals and vitamins, helping you stay hydrated. You should drink cold or room-temperature broth so that the wound does not get worse.
· Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese has low calories but is a good source of various minerals and vitamins. Its creamy and soft texture makes it easy to chew and swallow after oral surgery. It contains many proteins, which aid in faster wound healing. You can also add it to smoothies or scrambled eggs to consume after the surgery.
· Custard
Custard is a creamy dessert and a perfect soft food option to consume after oral surgery. It has a smooth texture and is enriched with calcium as it is cooked in milk. You do not need to chew custard and is gentle on sore gums or stitches, ultimately supporting your recovery phase. Natural flavors of almond or vanilla can be added to the custard or even mashed fruits can be added as per your likes or cravings.
· Greek Yogurt
Greek yoghurt contains proteins and is a healthy choice after dental surgery. Its creamy and smooth texture helps to number and soothe your mouth, providing relief from pain. It also has several vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and zinc, which help in the quick healing of wounds.
· Mashed Bananas
Bananas are easy to chew and swallow, making them a suitable soft food for after teeth surgery. They are healthy, as they contain many vitamins and minerals, including folate, manganese, potassium, and vitamin B6. Mashed bananas are smoother and easier to consume.
· Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a perfect food to consume, and you feel better after taking out your wisdom teeth. They contain huge amounts of calories and nutrients, which are essential for getting energy and feeling better.
· Mashed Pumpkin
You can have cooked, mashed pumpkin following dental surgery. Because of its mushy and soft texture, pumpkin can be chewed and swallowed easily. Pumpkin contains different minerals, such as potassium and vitamins A, C, and E, which help to improve the immune system of your body. In this way, pumpkin contributes to quick healing of the wound after dental surgery.
· Oats
Oats are one of the healthiest foods to take as they have a lot of fiber and give you a sense of fulfilment after consumption. They contain minerals and vitamins. Moreover, they are slightly chewy and sticky, so you should consume them at least three days after the oral surgery.
· Pureed Vegetables
Puree can be made with different nutritious vegetables, such as carrots, peas, or squash which does not require chewing. You get fiber and vitamins by eating consuming pureed vegetables which also prove helpful for digestion and recovery. Pureed vegetables are a perfect choice to have nutrient-rich diet that is easy to swallow after an oral surgery. You can also mix these vegetables in soup for enhancing their flavor.
· Refried Beans
Refried beans are creamy and soft, containing fiber, folate, iron, and protein which make them a good choice to eat after dental surgery. The nutrients help maintain your body’s energy levels and also promote healing. Refried beans are smooth and can be easily swallowed. You can consume them with mashed potatos or soft tortillas to make your meal nutritious and satisfy your hunger. Morover, adding chees and mild spices is also an option to make them flavorful.
· Rice Pudding
Rice pudding is made with milk, rice, and sugar and is a creamy dessert with a soft texture. It is a soft food that can be consumed comfortable without any fear of hurting your teeth after the surgery. It has a soft consistency and you do not need to chew it. You can enhance its taste by adding cinnamon or vanilla. Rice pudding has calcium and carbohydrates that are essential for providing energy to your body and nutrients that are crucial for recovery.
· Salmon
Salmon is a type of fish that is very beneficial for your health. It can be conveniently consumed after you have taken out your wisdom tooth. It contains proteins, fatty acids, and healthy fats, including omega-3, which helps heal wounds and reduce inflammation.
· Scrambled Eggs
Eggs are one of the best soft foods. They can be easily chewed and swallowed after tooth extractions, and they contain many minerals, proteins, and vitamins. You can consume eggs that have omega-3s to help the wound heal faster.
· Smoothies
Smoothies are a great way of getting more nutrients when you cannot have a solid meal. They can be made easily by mixing some fruit and vegetables with the protein in a blender. You can add any of your favourite ingredients to make a healthy smoothie that suits your taste buds and can be consumed easily. Adding Greek yoghurt or a scoop of protein powder into smoothies can give you a lot of protein, which helps in fast recovery.
Foods to Avoid After Oral Surgery
There are certain foods which you should not consume soon after the oral surgery, such as:
- Hot Foods (Coffee, Soup, Tea, etc.)
- Spicy Foods (Hot Sauce, Salsa, etc.)
- Chewy Foods (Caramel, Gum, Taffy, etc.)
- Crunchy or Hard Foods (Chips, Cookies, Crackers, Nuts, etc.)
- Acidic Foods (Lemonade, Orange Juice, Tomato Juice, Vinegar, etc.)
Final Verdict
After extracting a wisdom tooth, you should be well-prepared for surgery and know what to consume. The type of soft food you need to take will be decided based on your dietary requirements, health condition, type of surgery, and level of nutrition required for better and quick healing of the wound. Based on your dentist’s advice, you should prefer to consume dairy products, fruits, and vegetables that are a good source of nutrients, proteins, and vitamins for fast healing.
You should avoid consuming very hot foods and prefer to have foods that are room temperature. Moreover, you should not use a straw to drink a milkshake or smoothie to avoid disrupting the clot.