After any dental filling, root canal or removal, you will notice that you cannot feel your face or tongue for hours afterward.
This occurs because a numbing agent is given to ensure that you do not feel any pain during the procedure.
Oftentimes, people will attempt to go and eat or drink after a procedure only to find that they are drooling or biting their tongue in the process.
Since wisdom teeth require an intense numbing agent to be removed without feeling pain, you can expect these problems to be even worse.
The Day of Surgery
Before heading to the dentist, you should eat a big meal. This is done so that you can maintain your energy. Following the procedure, you will be very limited in what you can and cannot eat.
After surgery, you should adhere to the following diet.
- Liquid will be your main food source after your surgery. You can drink water, but it is ideal to have a meal replacement drink as well. If possible, choose a week’s supply of meal replacement as chewing will initially be difficult.
- Hot liquids should be avoided at this time.
- The use of straws is not allowed. The sucking motion will put stress on the area and cause the blood clot to dislodge.
The area where the tooth was removed will be very painful and not healed enough for normal eating.
There will be a blood clot that forms and stops the area from bleeding. During the first day and many subsequent days, the blood clot will not be formed strongly.
Eating the wrong foods or drinking the wrong drinks can cause the clot to open, causing further bleeding and irritation.
Day 2 – 3
Every person will feel a different level of pain and have a completely different healing process.
However, based on experience, we have found that day 2 and 3 will still be filled with pain and discomfort. While you can eat soft food at this time, you still want to refrain from eating foods that require a lot of chewing.
If you are unsure of what to eat, here are a few nutritious options.
- Smoothies: A smoothie can be created using your favorite fruits and vegetables. Smoothies are great because they are filled with all of the essential vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. Depending on your food choices, a smoothie may actually speed up the healing process.
- Apple Sauce: A delicious treat that melts in your mouth. Apple sauce can be purchased premade at most grocery stores and is a great source of vitamins.
- Greek Yogurt: Protein is very important during the recovery process. Greek yogurt is packed with great bacteria and is also packed with a ton of protein. You can add a dash of honey on top and some fresh fruit for added flavor.
- Jello: While not nutritious, jello is another option when you can’t eat solid foods. You can also opt for a fruit gelatin instead as they are much healthier than their sugary counterparts.
- Mashed Potatoes: A bowl of mashed potatoes is both delicious and healthy. Add a little butter, salt and pepper and enjoy.
Soups are another great choice, but you have to be careful about the temperature. With all of the foods listed, you never want to eat them if they are too hot. Instead, wait for them to cool to ensure that your clot doesn’t open.
The subsequent days should be followed with gradual chewing added into your diet. Soft foods, such as bananas and pears are a good start.
At this point, you will not be able to eat a steak, but your pain should have subsided to the point where you can chew breads and pastas without much of an issue.
If you do feel pain, make sure to eat on the other side of your mouth where the surgery has not taken place.