You had surgery to remove your wisdom teeth, and you’re probably in a lot of pain and discomfort right now. But what can you eat after having your wisdom teeth taken out? You might not think there are many choices, but luckily there is a lot of food out there!
While your mouth heals, here are some great food choices that will keep you healthy and let you enjoy tasty meals.
For now, you can’t eat a juicy steak or a big red apple, but here are some other things you can enjoy!
Most young adults will have their wisdom teeth taken out at some point in their lives. While the surgery is relatively quick, the recovery process can take some time. You’ll only be able to eat soft foods that don’t need much or any chewing after the surgery. So can you enjoy tasty salmon after wisdom teeth removal?.
The good news is that salmon is a great food to eat after getting your wisdom teeth taken out. It’s a good choice for many reasons. Here are some other soft foods you can eat while you’re healing.
Why Salmon is a Great Post-Surgery Option
Salmon has a naturally soft flaky texture that makes it easy to eat after oral surgery. It practically melts in your mouth so you don’t have to do much chewing. This makes it an excellent main dish option during recovery.
Salmon is also a great source of lean protein. Getting enough protein is crucial for healing as your body needs it to repair tissues and build new cells. Research shows that patients with low protein intake tend to have slower surgical recovery times.
Finally, salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids These healthy fats boast anti-inflammatory properties that may aid the healing process by reducing swelling. Some studies indicate omega-3s can quicken recovery by supporting wound closure.
So in short, salmon offers the soft texture you need after surgery, plus nutrients that support the body’s natural healing abilities.
Other Recommended Foods After Wisdom Teeth Removal
While salmon is a great choice, you’ll need a variety of soft, nutrient-dense foods in your diet as you recover. Here are some other good options:
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Yogurt: A smooth, creamy source of protein, yogurt goes down easy. Greek varieties pack an extra protein punch.
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Mashed potatoes: Potatoes provide calories, vitamins and minerals in an easy-to-eat form. Skip the hot temps though, as heat can irritate surgery sites.
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Soup: Broths and pureed soups offer hydration and nutrients. Just make sure varieties you choose are smooth, not chunky.
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Eggs: Scrambled or poached eggs are a great way to get protein without much chewing.
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Oatmeal: Oatmeal offers fiber, iron, and other good-for-you nutrients. Stick to instant varieties that have a softer texture.
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Smoothies: Blend up your favorite fruits and veggies for a nutrient boost. Adding yogurt or protein powder can help keep you full.
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Mashed bananas: Bananas are soft enough after surgery but also provide nutrients like vitamin B6, magnesium, and potassium.
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Avocado: Blend up or mash some avocado for an easy-to-eat, smooth texture with healthy fats.
Foods to Avoid After Surgery
While the above foods get the green light, you’ll want to avoid anything hard, crunchy, chewy, spicy or acidic as you recover. These foods can irritate the surgical site and delay healing. Avoid:
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Chips, nuts, seeds, popcorn
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Raw veggies and salads
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Bread, pizza crust, baked goods
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Tough, chewy meats
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Candy and granola bars
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Alcohol, coffee, soda
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Citrus fruits and juices
Also, wait at least 24 hours after surgery to drink hot liquids. Cold and room temperature foods are best for avoiding irritation.
Tips for a Comfortable Recovery
Following some additional tips will help make your wisdom teeth recovery as quick and painless as possible:
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Take it easy. Don’t rush back to your normal activity level. Rest for at least 24 hours.
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Ice your face. Applying ice packs helps minimize swelling and discomfort.
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Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water and non-citrus juices or smoothies.
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Keep the area clean. Gentle rinsing with warm salt water can help prevent infection.
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Take pain meds. Over-the-counter meds like ibuprofen can relieve discomfort as you heal.
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Get enough nutrients. Eat a balanced diet with protein sources like salmon, yogurt, eggs, and protein shakes.
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Avoid irritation. Stick to a soft food diet for the first 3 to 5 days.
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See your dentist. Follow up with your oral surgeon if you have concerns during recovery.
The Takeaway
Having your wisdom teeth extracted doesn’t have to mean eating boring food for a week. Salmon is one delicious option that offers the soft texture you need after surgery. Rich in protein and omega-3s, it may even help promote healing. Pair it with other soft, nutrient-dense choices for the most comfortable recovery.
Instant or Traditional Oatmeal
You might not know this, but oats are one of the healthiest foods in the world. Eating oats for meals and snacks has many benefits. They are high in fiber, and they’re loaded with vitamins and minerals.
It’s best to wait a few days after surgery before eating oats because they can be sticky or chewy. When it comes to choosing which kind to eat, instant oatmeal is also one of the least chewy.
Be sure to also let the oats cool before you try to eat them.
Pumpkin is a really popular vegetable in the fall because they’re always in abundance throughout the country. It is very easy to eat and digest because it is soft and mushy. This makes it a great treat while you are healing.
Pumpkin is also rich in all kinds of different vitamins and minerals. It tastes great with brown sugar and butter, or you can cook it any way you like sweet potatoes or squash.
What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Both soups and broths are extremely high in enzymes and vitamins that are great for your body’s nutrition. Better yet, they taste great and always seem to make you feel better if you’re sick. When you eat soup, choose blended soups that don’t have any chunks that could hurt the area where you had surgery.
Tomato, pumpkin, cheese, and other similar soups are great options!
An added bonus to soups and broths is that they’ll help to keep you hydrated throughout your recovery. Hydration is a big part of recovery quickly after having wisdom teeth removed.
Any yogurt without big chunks is good for your teeth and health, but Greek yogurt is especially good for you. The high protein content and creamy texture will help your mouth heal and can help you feel better while you eat it.
Consuming high-protein snacks and foods can, at times, help aid in a faster recovery.
Unfortunately, you shouldn’t eat hot potatoes right after surgery because they can irritate the area where the surgery was done.
Mashed potatoes can provide a high-calorie meal with lots of nutrients and vitamins. Consuming potatoes will help you to feel full and can keep you full for a while. It’s a great way to eat some food in more of a meal form.
Another high-protein food that you can eat is eggs. For example, scrambled eggs are easy to eat and full of vitamins, making them one of the best foods to eat.
You can make the eggs in a number of different ways, but scrambled eggs are the easiest to eat without having to chew too much.
If you’ve been wanting apples, you won’t be able to eat those crunchy treats for a few weeks. Apple sauce is a great way to still enjoy that great apple taste that you’ve been craving.
Additionally, apples are high in vitamin C and can boost your immune system. It hasn’t been proven that a boosted immune system helps the healing process, but it sure can’t hurt!.
Bananas are an extremely popular fruit and a great source of vitamin B, potassium, and manganese, and folate. Additionally, they can be easily consumed after your surgery.
It’s not always necessary to mash the banana before eating it, but it can make it easier to do so.
Ice cream is a great treat! The cool texture will help to ease discomfort from your surgery. Most ice cream isn’t very good for you, but there are easy-to-make healthy ice cream recipes out there.
Finding a way to consume some fresh ice cream is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face!
Avacado is easy to eat and is even quite tasty. The vitamins and fats that are found in avocado are very helpful in the wisdom teeth recovery process.
Mash them or whip them and add some salt to make them easier to consume. Just be sure that they’re nice and ripe.
Smoothies are not only incredibly flavorful, but they’re also easy to consume and can provide a full meal. Finding a smoothie you like will take a little experimenting. The easiest way to find one is to start trying them.
Add ice, yogurt or protein powder, and your favorite fruits and vegetables to start.
There’s no doubt that hummus is a superfood. Each bite of hummus contains a lot of protein. Best of all, it comes in all types of great flavors for your enjoyment. You can have classic flavors, spice it up, or make it totally unique.
You can buy hummus at most grocery stores or make your own by following this great recipe.
Cottage cheese definitely isn’t for everyone. Some people love it, and some people just don’t. But because it has a lot of protein, cottage cheese is a great food to eat while you’re healing from having your wisdom teeth taken out. Notice that we try to highlight foods that are really good for you while you’re recovering. Because one way to get better faster is to eat foods that are simple for your body to break down and get nutrients from.
What to eat after wisdom teeth removal
FAQ
Can I eat fish after wisdom teeth removal?
Is salmon okay to eat after tooth extraction?
Can I eat tuna 4 days after wisdom teeth removal?
Can you eat salmon after wisdom teeth removal?
Salmon is one of the healthiest fish you can eat. This flaky fish is also excellent to eat after wisdom teeth removal because it’s soft and easy to chew. Wild-caught salmon is high in protein and healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids. These fats may help with wound healing by reducing inflammation.
What are the best ways to manage pain after wisdom teeth removal?
Pain and discomfort are common after wisdom tooth removal. Taking prescribed pain medication, applying cold compresses to the affected area, using warm saltwater rinses, maintaining adequate oral hygiene, following dietary recommendations, resting and elevating your head, and avoiding strenuous activity are all useful approaches to managing pain and assisting healing after wisdom tooth removal. Always follow the post-operative instructions given by your dental practitioner and adhere to all follow-up appointments to avoid complications.
Can you eat soft foods after a wisdom tooth removal?
After the removal of a wisdom tooth, a person may find it beneficial to eat soft foods because they do not require chewing. People should aim to avoid hard foods. Wisdom teeth are the last molars to emerge. They usually appear when a person reaches their late teenage years or early 20s.
Can you eat potatoes after wisdom teeth removal?
Potatoes are a root vegetable that can be prepared in many ways. When mashed, they may be comforting after you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed. They’re rich in calories and nutrients, which is important for recovery. People have slightly higher energy requirements after having surgery.