When can you eat regular food after wisdom teeth removal

Depending on what type of treatment you receive, oral surgery may require a couple weeks of healing time before you’re ready to resume your normal routine. One of the most common questions that we receive is how long it takes until you can eat solid food without having to worry about causing any pain or damage to the surgery site.

Table of Contents Show

Why You Can’t Eat Solid Food After Oral Surgery
What to Eat Instead
Diet Restrictions Immediately Following Wisdom Teeth Removal
Preparing for Wisdom Teeth Removal
Call Our Naperville Office with any Questions
How long after wisdom teeth removal can I eat a normal diet?
What can I eat 7 days after wisdom teeth removal?
What can I eat 4 days after wisdom teeth removal?

Why You Can’t Eat Solid Food After Oral Surgery

Dental tissue is soft and sensitive. When we’ve gone through oral surgery, like a wisdom tooth extraction, chances are we are leaving an area of our mouths vulnerable and exposed. Not to mention, our jaws may be sore from the surgery, and it can be difficult to eat or even talk while we recover. This is why we don’t recommend that you eat solid foods after oral surgery. Not only does it increase your risk of developing an infection if food particles get stuck in the surgery site, but it also can be difficult to even eat at all.

What to Eat Instead

One of the advantages of recovering from oral surgery is that we actually recommend that you eat soft foods that you probably normally wouldn’t eat large quantities of, like ice cream, Jello and mashed potatoes. Soups may also be okay as long as they are not too hot.

The best news is that you don’t have to keep up with this soft food diet for very long, either. Normally, you should avoid solid food for just 24 hours after your oral surgery, after which it may be okay to eat it again.

It’s very important to talk to your dentist about specific eating instructions, as it depends on the type of treatment that you have received as well as your own individual healing time. But remember, it’s always best to err on the side of caution instead of causing any damage!

If you have any questions about restorative or cosmetic procedures, along with what the healing time for any of these treatments look like, contact us today at Dental Solutions of Columbus! We look forward to seeing you!

Wisdom teeth removal is the most common oral surgery procedure performed across the U.S., and the same is true for Drs. Jandali and Hur in Naperville. These pesky molars are likely to cause other oral health problems if not dealt with, therefore, many men, women, and teens from the area choose wisdom teeth removal sooner rather than later.

When our oral surgeons sit down with patients during an initial wisdom teeth removal consultation, they review every aspect of the surgery, including the recovery period. While recovery is often overlooked by patients, it is one of the most important aspects of wisdom teeth removal. During your recovery, your diet will be temporarily limited to allow your gums and surrounding tissue to heal properly. No need to worry—it won’t be long before you’ll be visiting your favorite Naperville eatery and back to eating solid foods again.

Diet Restrictions Immediately Following Wisdom Teeth Removal

Many patients believe that a diet full of milkshakes and ice cream is “just what the doctor orders” after wisdom teeth removal. However, while the occasional treat is okay, our oral surgeons recommend that patients eat nourishing foods during their recovery—even immediately after their surgery, so long as they can be eaten with comfort.

Be careful to avoid any foods that are extremely hot, crunchy, or spicy as these can irritate the surgical sites and cause discomfort. Instead, consider foods that are soft or liquid for the first 24 hours after wisdom teeth removal. Remember, in order to avoid dry socket, do not drink any liquids through a straw, as this could dislodge the needed blood clots from the empty sockets in your jaw.

Within about a week, you may gradually increase your intake of solid foods. Again, only eat what feels comfortable, and stop eating and make changes if you begin to experience any discomfort or pain.

No matter the stage of recovery you’re in, it’s important that you not skip any meals. Eating on a regular schedule improves the recovery period as patients feel better, gain strength faster, and have less discomfort when nourishment is taken in. Foods that are high in nutritional value such as soups, puddings, yogurt, eggs, applesauce, or flaky fish are recommended.

Preparing for Wisdom Teeth Removal

Oral and Facial Surgery of Naperville recommends that wisdom teeth removal patients plan ahead and prepare their pantry and fridge with the right types of foods before they come in for their surgery. This will ensure you have what you need available and easily accessible while you recover at home. Remember, keep the nutritional value high and balance your intake of protein, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats and carbs so your recovery period will go smoothly.

Call Our Naperville Office with any Questions

If you find you have questions or concerns about the wisdom teeth removal process, or the recovery period afterward, please do not hesitate to call Oral and Facial Surgery of Naperville. Our entire staff values your safety and wellbeing, and if you are concerned, we want to know. You can reach a member of our team in Naperville by calling (630) 961-5151 today.

How long after wisdom teeth removal can I eat a normal diet?

Most sockets take about 6 weeks to heal fully following dental surgery, and you should be back to mostly normal eating habits within 3-4 weeks post-procedure.

What can I eat 7 days after wisdom teeth removal?

You should eat only soft foods for the first week: for example, soups, eggs, mashed potatoes, and meatloaf are fine. For 2 weeks (8 weeks if you had lower wisdom teeth extracted), do not eat hard, crunchy, or very chewy foods, such as European breads, pizza crust, steak or jerky, nuts, or popcorn.

What can I eat 4 days after wisdom teeth removal?

What can I eat 4 days after wisdom teeth removal? After a few days, you should be able to gradually introduce more solid foods into your diet. Some good options include oatmeal, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, cooked vegetables, and finely chopped meat. Naturally, it's still crucial to avoid hard, crunchy foods.