Impacted wisdom teeth are terribly painful and can cause complications such as gum disease, abscess, and adjacent tooth loss. Getting your wisdom teeth removed can relieve a lot of discomfort happening inside your mouth. However, after the procedure, make sure you follow the aftercare instructions very carefully, especially when it comes to eating.
Foods to Eat After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Right after the extraction, your mouth will feel numb due to the anaesthetic. You should avoid hot and cold foods because they can cause sensitivity to the open tooth socket without realizing it. You may also accidentally bite your tongue or cheek while under anaesthesia, so it’s best to avoid any chewing movements while you still can’t feel your mouth.
After a few hours, you can start with liquid foods such as soups, broths, or purees. You can also drink fresh juices or smoothies. However, avoid using a straw because sucking in the air can cause a dry socket which is quite painful.
For the next few days, you should stick to a soft diet consisting of foods that are soft and easy to chew. Some foods that you can comfortably eat include:
- Yogurt
- Soft cheeses
- Soft fruits like avocados and ripe bananas
- Mashed potatoes
- Well-cooked fish
- Scrambled eggs
- Oatmeal
- Noodle soup
- Seedless fruit smoothies
- Pureed fruits or vegetables
- Milk
- Porridge or congee
- Pudding
- Jelly
- Well-cooked pasta
A few days after the procedure, eating cold foods can help relieve swelling, such as ice cream, popsicles, and cold beverages.
Foods to Avoid
For the socket to heal correctly, the blood should clot effectively right after surgery. Don’t eat or drink foods that disrupt the blood clotting process, such as coffee and other acidic beverages.
In the next few days, avoid eating foods that are crunchy and need a lot of chewing. Also, avoid foods that leave debris behind or can get stuck between teeth and gums, such as popcorn, nuts, seeds, chips, hard pretzels, tacos, nachos, and the like. It would be best if you refrained from eating anything spicy because it can cause discomfort to the healing socket.
Long-Term Care and Maintenance
Two weeks after wisdom tooth removal, the socket should have adequately healed and no longer cause any discomfort. Get a follow-up consultation with your Hornsby dentist if you find that the empty tooth socket is still painful. This may indicate a possible infection or another condition that needs immediate treatment.
After some time, your molar teeth should be able to occupy the space that was previously taken by the wisdom tooth. However, if you still feel a gap in your gums, this can have potential risks for future infections. Make sure that you brush the area thoroughly to prevent food from getting stuck in these spaces. Not only can food debris cause bad breath when stuck between the gums and teeth, but it can also cause infections in the future.
Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed in Hornsby
If you’re looking for a dental clinic in Hornsby where you can get your wisdom teeth removed, Piazza Dental is the place for you. We are conveniently located inside Piazza Mall. You can visit us during office hours, and we will be happy to guide you through the extraction process. Call us today for more details.
