Leena Watts
Wisdom teeth removal is a common surgery, but it is invasive, so it takes about two weeks to heal. During the first week, you should stick to soft foods and liquids that require no chewing, such as smoothies, yoghurt, ice cream, apple sauce, and lukewarm soup. This helps the extraction site heal and avoids irritation or infection. After the first 24 hours, you may begin reincorporating semi-soft foods, like eggs, pasta, soft vegetables, chicken, and beef. If chewing causes pain, go back to soft and semisoft foods.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet after wisdom teeth removal | Soft and liquid foods |
| When to start the diet | Immediately after the surgery |
| How long to follow the diet | First 24 to 48 hours |
| Examples of liquid diet | Yogurt, apple sauce, ice cream, smoothies, lukewarm soup |
| When to start eating solid foods | After 24 hours |
| Examples of solid foods | Eggs, toast, oatmeal, pasta, soft vegetables, chicken, beef |
| When to resume normal diet | After 1 week or 2 weeks |
| What to avoid | Hard or crunchy foods, smoking |
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What You'll Learn
Recommended foods and drinks
Immediately after wisdom tooth removal surgery, it is recommended to stick to a liquid food diet for 24 hours. Broths, yoghurt, ice cream, and lukewarm soup are good options. It is important to avoid anything that is overly hot in temperature, as this can prolong swelling.
After the first 24 hours, you may start adding semi-soft foods to your diet, such as eggs, cottage cheese, pasta, soft vegetables, chicken, beef, and instant oatmeal. It is important to avoid crunchy or chewy foods, such as hard taco shells, beef jerky, and crunchy bread, as they may damage the wound.
By day three, you can continue to increase solid foods as long as chewing does not cause any pain. Some options for solid foods include fruits, vegetables, and chicken. It is important to maintain a healthy oral hygiene routine during this time to avoid developing oral infections at the extraction sites.
There are also some foods and drinks that should be avoided during the recovery process. Alcohol, soft drinks, and caffeinated beverages should be avoided for at least the first five days after extraction, as they can disturb your teeth and mouth. It is also important to avoid smoking and the use of straws for the first 48 hours, as this can create a suction vacuum and risk dislodging the forming blood clot.
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Foods to avoid
It is important to pay close attention to your diet after wisdom tooth removal surgery to avoid complications and promote healing. The wrong foods can cause irritation, introduce bacteria, or require too much chewing, which can place unnecessary stress on your jaw.
For the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery, you should stick to a liquid diet and very soft foods. This is because the surgical site will be vulnerable as your body begins the healing process. A protective blood clot forms in the socket, and disturbing it can delay recovery or lead to a condition called dry socket, which exposes nerves and bone. To avoid dislodging this blood clot, it is recommended that you avoid using a straw for the first 48 hours.
During this initial recovery period, you should avoid the following foods and drinks:
- Alcohol and caffeine—these can interfere with anaesthesia and medications.
- Spicy foods—these can cause discomfort and inflammation.
- Acidic foods—these can also cause discomfort and inflammation.
- Crunchy or chewy foods—these can damage the recovering area or rip the incisions. Examples include hard taco shells, beef jerky, and crunchy bread.
- Hot foods and drinks—these can also disrupt the healing process or cause pain.
As you start to heal, you can gradually introduce more solid foods. However, it is important to continue avoiding anything hard or crunchy that may cause pain or get trapped in the recovering area.
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How to eat and drink
Immediately after wisdom teeth removal, you will likely be hungry and tired from the anaesthesia. It is recommended to stick to a liquid food diet for the first 24 hours. Liquids should be at lukewarm temperatures and can include:
- Smoothies and milkshakes (eaten with a spoon, not a straw)
- Broths
- Yogurt
- Ice cream
- Soup
You should avoid drinking alcohol, soft drinks, and caffeinated beverages for at least the first five days after extraction. Water is your best option for staying hydrated.
After the first 24 hours, you may begin to incorporate semi-soft foods, like:
- Eggs
- Pasta
- Soft vegetables
- Chicken
- Beef
- Instant oatmeal
- Cottage cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Salmon
- Toast
If your mouth is still very tender and sensitive, it might be worth sticking to soft foods for longer. By day six of your recovery, you should see a reduction in swelling and sensitivity.
You should avoid crunchy or chewy foods, like hard taco shells, beef jerky, and crunchy bread until the sockets are fully healed.
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When to resume normal eating
Wisdom tooth extraction can take between 3 days and 2 weeks for you to recover. Most people are able to resume a normal diet within a week of having their wisdom teeth removed, but it can take up to two weeks.
In the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery, it is recommended to eat only liquid and soft foods that require no chewing. These may include yoghurt, apple sauce, ice cream, lukewarm soup, and smoothies. Cold foods may help alleviate some of the discomfort. After the first 24 hours, you may begin reincorporating semi-soft foods, like eggs, pasta, soft vegetables, chicken, and beef.
On the third day after surgery, try foods like toast or oatmeal. Gradually continue to increase solid foods as chewing doesn't cause any pain. If you experience pain when chewing, return to soft and semisoft foods.
By day six of your recovery, you should see a reduction in swelling and sensitivity. Maintain a healthy oral hygiene routine to avoid developing oral infections at the extraction sites. Start on day two or three to gently floss and brush your teeth, being careful not to brush over the extraction site to avoid opening the incision.
It is important to pay attention to any pain or discomfort when you eat and try only to eat foods that are comfortable. It can still be dangerous to chew aggressively near the extraction site, but everything will progressively return to normal.
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Healing and recovery time
Wisdom tooth extraction is a common surgery, but it is invasive, so it is important to take care during the healing process. The recovery time can vary from person to person, but it typically takes between three days and two weeks.
For the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery, it is recommended to eat only liquid and soft foods. This is because the extraction site will be tender and susceptible to infection. Eating soft and liquid foods helps the extraction site to heal, and other foods may cause irritation or get trapped in the area, leading to infection. Cold foods like yoghurt, ice cream, and smoothies may relieve some discomfort. It is also important to avoid using a straw during the first 48 hours, as this can create a suction vacuum that may dislodge the blood clot over the extraction site.
After the first 24 hours, you may begin to incorporate semi-soft foods, such as eggs, pasta, soft vegetables, chicken, and beef. If your mouth is still very tender and sensitive, it is recommended to stick to soft foods for longer. On day two or three, you can start to gently floss and brush your teeth, being careful not to brush over the extraction site.
By day six, you should see a reduction in swelling and sensitivity. However, the incision sites are still vulnerable to rupture, so it is important to avoid crunchy or chewy foods until the sockets are fully healed. Maintaining a healthy oral hygiene routine will help to avoid developing oral infections at the extraction sites.
Most people are able to resume a normal diet within one to two weeks. However, it is important to pay attention to any pain or discomfort and only eat foods that are comfortable. If you experience pain when chewing, it is recommended to return to soft and semi-soft foods.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to stick to a liquid diet for the first 24 to 48 hours after wisdom teeth removal. This allows the extraction site to begin healing without the risk of food getting trapped and causing infection.
Lukewarm liquids are recommended, as anything too hot or cold can irritate your mouth. You can consume liquids such as broth, yoghurt, ice cream, juice, water, and smoothies.
After the first 24 to 48 hours, you can start incorporating soft foods that require minimal chewing. This includes eggs, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, pasta, soft vegetables, chicken, and beef.
Recovery from wisdom teeth removal typically takes around two weeks on average. However, it's important to monitor your healing progress and adjust your diet accordingly.
Yes, it's best to avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods during the recovery period, as they can damage the extraction site or get trapped, leading to infection. This includes foods like hard taco shells, beef jerky, crunchy bread, pretzels, chips, and tough meats.
