Oral surgeries require proper aftercare for the best chance of healing. And your diet plays a big role in the process. After all, choosing the right foods can help keep your pain down, prevent complications, and even promote recovery.
While your oral surgeon will give you aftercare instructions, this article gives you an idea of what you can eat after oral surgery and which foods you should avoid.
Foods to Eat After Oral Surgery
Below is an idea of foods to have on hand after your dental procedure. Keep in mind that these foods will change as you go through the different stages of recovery.
The First 24 Hours
As you leave the oral surgeon’s office, you are likely still experiencing numbness. This can make it tough to chew and increase the chance of accidentally biting or disturbing the surgical site.
To ensure that you are getting the nutrition you need without any issues, you will want to temporarily maintain a liquid diet. This means consuming things such as clear broths, tea, water, gelatin, and pulp-free fruit juices are perfect choices.
Sticking to liquids can ensure that you are staying hydrated while protecting any vulnerable areas.
Days 2 to 7
After the initial 24 hours, the numbness should be gone and you should begin to feel more comfortable. With over-the-counter medication minimizing any discomfort, you can begin introducing softer foods. These should be easy to swallow with very minimal chewing, such as:
- Smoothies
- Scrambled eggs
- Yogurt
- Puddings
- Blended soups
- Mashed potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Well-cooked, soft pasta
- Oatmeal
There are many different possibilities of foods that are soft, but have some good nutritional value.
Foods to Avoid After Oral Surgery
There are a few things to avoid after oral surgery while you are still recovering. These foods can cause irritation and harm to the surgical site and may delay the healing process. Check out the foods that made this list.
Hard and crunchy foods. Things like chips, nuts, and even steak can aggravate the surgical site and may dislodge blood clots.
Spicy foods. Those with a kick can lead to irritation.
Acidic foods and drinks. Because these foods may also irritate your surgical site, stay away from citrus, tomatoes, and the like.
Foods with small particles. This includes foods like seeds, rice, and grains. Due to their size, these particles can become trapped in the wound.
Alcoholic and/or carbonated beverages. Drinking adult beverages can delay healing and carbonation can interfere with the formation of blood clots.
If you aren’t sure whether or not a food is safe to eat, you may want to avoid it until you get through the recovery process.
Everything You Need For Post-Operative Success
At Rio Grande Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center, we want to ensure you have everything you need for successful healing after your procedure. We will provide you with all your aftercare instructions and are always available should you need us— before, during, and after.
Contact us at 505-821-2111 to schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will I need to be on a soft food diet?
The length of time you will need to be on a soft food diet will vary, depending on your healing progress. You will receive specific instructions to follow that may keep you eating only soft foods for at least 7 days.
What if I accidentally eat something hard after surgery?
First, don’t panic. Gently rinse out your mouth with salt water and visually examine the surgical site. If you experience any pain, swelling, or bleeding, contact your oral surgeon right away.