Wisdom Teeth Removal: Eating During Recovery

While wisdom teeth removal is an important procedure guaranteed to protect you from extraordinary pain and the possibility of infections and other problems in many cases, the procedure itself can lead to a somewhat painful recovery. Unfortunately, there's not much that can be done about that. The good news is that recovery only lasts so long and then you can get back to your regularly scheduled life. In the meantime, you'll need to exercise caution when eating food so as not to create more pain than is necessary. For the first few days of recovery, here are some guidelines to follow regarding your meals.

You'll probably be a bit numb from the surgery when you first come home. Because you have fasted in preparation for the procedure, eating something sounds like a good idea. It isn't. Instead, spend the first five hours or so getting some sleep or otherwise resting without food. Many people have an adverse reaction to eating this soon before the medication has had a chance to wear off. It will likely upset your stomach and it could cause vomiting. Take it slow and use this time to catch up on your rest. At the same time, don't discount water, as it can keep you from getting too dehydrated.

Your primary diet in the first few days following the procedure should consist of soft foods. Wisdom teeth removal will not leave you in a condition to eat crunchy foods or really anything that requires a lot of chewing. Don't try to ignore the problem or force yourself back to normal eating habits too quickly. Take recovery seriously and eat things like soup, pudding, and mashed potatoes. It won't be long before you're able to incorporate solid foods back into your diet. Just don't try to rush it. 

Regulate the temperature of the food you consume. Foods and coffee that is too hot can cause complications with the recovery process. As hard as you may try to keep liquid and food from getting into the back of your teeth, it's going to happen. Hot liquids can cause problems with blood clots forming where the wisdom teeth removal took place. When this happens, recovery takes a turn for the worse and is delayed. It could even lead to more serious complications such as infection. 

Consult with your dentist a few days after the wisdom teeth removal and ask him if you are ready to get back to solid foods. You should be feeling better by this time. He will be able to make a determination as to whether you're ready and will be able to dispense advice on how to handle getting back to a more normal diet.