Why Can’t I Eat Solid Food?A surgical procedure is often required to remove wisdom teeth. Following this procedure, the wound inside the patient’s dental cavity needs to heal. The recovery process starts quickly, but it takes some time for the wound to heal completely. Show This is why Dr. Amin Samadian recommends patients do not immediately return to solid foods after their wisdom teeth are removed. When eating spicy food, the gums and surrounding area where the surgery was performed can become irritated. When this happens, pain is likely to occur. Alcohol is also known to irritate the gums and wound. When eating hard foods, it may cause the stitches at the wound to open. This can lead a longer recovery time and interfere with healing. Grains should also be avoided for the first few days. Eating foods like rice can cause the grains to get stuck in the wound. This can cause problems with the healing process and even contribute to an infection in the process. Immediately following your wisdom teeth removal, there will be some pain and swelling. It is important to be gentle with your jaw and not disrupt the blood clot during those first few days. This risk can be lessened by eating soft or liquid foods only during those initial days. For the first week following surgery, see some great options for foods below:
You must follow all aftercare procedures as advised by your dental surgeon and be very gentle following your surgery. After a few days, you can slowly begin to introduce other foods, but listen to your body and go back to soft or liquid meals if you start to experience pain or discomfort. When introducing more solid foods, you can ease into it with scrambled eggs or oatmeal, rather than chips or steak. What to AvoidCertain foods should be avoided during your recovery, as they may disrupt your healing process. Crunchy or hard-to-chew foods such as nuts or beef jerky can reopen stitches or get stuck in the extraction site, causing pain or infection. Additionally, foods high in acidity or spice can irritate your wound and cause discomfort. Straws are also a big no-no when it comes to healing from a wisdom teeth removal procedure. The sucking motion needed to use a straw can dislodge the blood clot and cause bleeding, pain, and a prolonged recovery. This is often called dry socket, and it can be quite painful. Ultimately, every patient can take a different amount of time to heal fully, and we encourage you to slowly introduce foods based on your comfort level. 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. Are you looking to get your wisdom teeth removed? Call our Glendale, Pasadena, or La Cañada locations to schedule a consultation today!
When can you eat solid food after wisdom teeth removal?The third set of molars are often called wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth generally appear between the ages of 17 and 21. Oftentimes, these teeth cause overcrowding or are impacted, which can lead to a misaligned bite. For these reasons, many people end up having their wisdom teeth extracted. Take a quizFind out what you can do with our Health Assistant When you have your wisdom teeth removed, a blood clot forms in the hole where the tooth was, which gets replaced by bone growth from the jaw. During the first few days of recovery, you should be very gentle with your jaw and be careful not to disrupt the blood clot as it heals. Are you wondering when you can eat solid food after wisdom teeth removal? It’s advised to slowly introduce solid foods into your diet about seven days after your surgery. Wisdom tooth extraction is a simple procedure, but recovery can take some time. Because your mouth is healing, knowing what to eat after wisdom teeth removal is important. Solid foods that are firm or sharp can injure the recovery site or even dislodge the blood clot, which can lead to a dry socket. Choosing soft foods to eat after wisdom teeth removal goes a long way towards hastening the healing process and minimizes pain while eating. What to eat after wisdom teeth removal
Your surgeon may send you home with a list of what to eat after wisdom teeth removal. You may have swelling, numbness, and pain immediately after your surgery, so you may want to plan and stock your pantry or fridge ahead of time with these soft foods so you don’t have to go to the store until you feel better. Here’s a convenient list of foods to eat after wisdom teeth removal:
Because you must avoid solid food for at least one week after your surgery, you need to ensure you are getting enough nutrients for your body. Try to plan and stock up on nutritious soups and broths. Ensure that you have enough food to eat after wisdom teeth removal that is soft and nutritious. Chicken, beef, and vegetable broths all have nutrients that your body needs. Blend your soups to remove any solid pieces while retaining the flavors you enjoy. Foods to avoid after wisdom teeth removalGive your mouth plenty of time to heal by eating foods that won’t disturb the socket. Solid foods with sharp edges can poke the site, causing bleeding, swelling, or even a painful dry socket. Foods to avoid during the first week of recovery include:
Though you may not want or be able to open your mouth much during recovery, it's very important to avoid using straws or making a sucking motion with your mouth. The sucking action can dislodge the blood clot and cause excessive bleeding and pain. This is commonly called a dry socket. Avoiding straws helps to prevent dry sockets. Alcohol can inflame the tissues in your mouth and cause pain and swelling around your socket, so avoid drinking alcohol for the first week of your recovery. Sugary foods like cookies, sweet treats, and soda can inflame the gums around your teeth due to plaque, causing further swelling to the gums around your socket. Be mindful of your list of foods to eat after wisdom teeth removal and stick to it. How to take care of yourself after wisdom teeth removalGive yourself proper care and attention after your surgery. You can alleviate discomfort and avoid unnecessary injury and pain by following some simple dos and don’ts. For example:
Some people have busy schedules or have to care for children or other loved ones. Make a point to make time for yourself and ensure you lay down, relax, and take it easy. Let your loved ones know what’s going on and ask for help if you need it. You can return to most activities after one week, and after two weeks, your socket should be well on its way to complete recovery. Wisdom teeth removal complicationsAll surgeries come with the chance of complications. Knowing what they are can help you be prepared for all the possibilities during your healing process. Some wisdom teeth removal complications include:
Your surgeon should go over all of the possible complications. You may experience bleeding hours after your surgery, and the swelling may not go down for days. Nerve injury may lead to temporary or permanent loss of sensation, numbness, or tingling. Being aware of what can happen can help you take appropriate action if complications arise during your week of recovery. If you notice an infection or are unsure of new symptoms, be sure to contact your health professional and keep them informed of any wisdom teeth removal complications. The takeawayWisdom teeth extraction is a very common procedure. Many people receive this procedure for one or all four of their wisdom teeth. It takes one to two weeks for a socket to heal, but it can sometimes take longer, depending on the person. Give your body time to heal, and understand that it takes a lot of energy from the body to recover from surgery. Stick to the list of what to eat after wisdom teeth removal. Do what you can to aid the healing process like avoiding using straws and not smoking after wisdom teeth removal. Take naps and carve out time for yourself during your day. When you know the date of your surgery, get prepared and stock up on soft foods. Avoid taxing activities and don’t schedule big events for the first week of recovery to give yourself time to destress and relax. Talk to your healthcare professional about any wisdom teeth removal complications. By the end of the first week, you should be feeling much better. Within two weeks, you should be almost back to normal and can continue your daily routine. |