Everyone heals differently after wisdom teeth removal, but following key instructions regarding what a patient can and cannot eat after the procedure is critical to ensuring a fast and smooth recovery experience. Our Fort Lauderdale FL dentist recommends the following post-procedure foods to keep you on the road to recovery.
Soft Foods
In the first 24 hours after the procedure, you need to be thoughtful about your food choices. It is common for patients to feel disoriented or fatigued after the removal, so it is wise to have some soft, cool snack options prepared and stocked before surgery.
Applesauce is a great option to begin with, as it is soft and full of helpful minerals and vitamins to help you heal. Chill your applesauce to boost the benefits, as the coolness will help to soothe inflammation.
Ice-Cream, yogurt and milkshakes are all beneficial because of their chilled, soft properties as well. While an excuse to enjoy ice-cream may be a bonus in recovery, be sure to opt for soft-serve options. Rocky Road will have to wait a few weeks!
Foods That Could Be Hazardous
The danger in chunks, or hard-to-chew foods, is that food bits may get lodged in your wounds. This will delay the healing process and can potentially cause infection as well. This same fear of additional discomfort, pain, and infection is why straws and sucking are the cardinal sin of recovery diets after getting your wisdom teeth out. Sucking can disturb and remove the clots that are also working to heal the wounds, resulting in infection.
Instead of straws, stick with spoons for Jell-O, pudding, mashed potatoes, and warm (not hot) broth-based soups. By day 3, gradually thicker substances like instant oatmeal and cottage cheese can be worked into your rotation. You should wait at least a week before eating crunchy, spicy, or chewy foods. When you do reach that benchmark, it may be wise to begin by allowing crunchy foods to dissolve a bit in your mouth before you begin to chew to lessen the likelihood of a sharp edge puncturing a delicate area.
Should you have any questions about what foods are optimal for a smooth recovery, do not hesitate to call our Fort Lauderdale dental office. Enjoy the milkshakes!
About | Dentist Fort Lauderdale, FL | Florida Smiles Dental Above all else, we here at Florida Smiles Dental want our patients to maintain healthy, bright, and beautiful smiles! Call us today to schedule your appointment! Florida Smiles Dental, 255 SE 14th St. #200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 • 754-354-0363 • floridasmilesdental.com • 9/3/2024 • Tags: dentist Fort Lauderdale •
Everyone heals differently after wisdom teeth removal, but following key instructions regarding what a patient can and cannot eat after the procedure is critical to ensuring a fast and smooth recovery experience. Our Fort Lauderdale FL dentist recommends the following post-procedure foods to keep you on the road to recovery.