What To Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal

In the days after wisdom teeth surgery, every meal comes with a bit of a risk assessment. Food you normally eat without a second thought can suddenly seem questionable, given your sore mouth.

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So, what can be on your plate? Let’s set a menu with the help of oral and maxillofacial surgeon Alan Martinez Lopez, DDS.

Foods to eat after wisdom tooth surgery, like applesauce and scrambled eggs

Best foods to eat after wisdom teeth removal

Meals should focus on easy-to-eat foods for three to seven days after wisdom teeth removal. That means soft and smooth foods that require little to no chewing, says Dr. Martinez. Lukewarm or even cool dishes are better options, too.

Choosing foods that check these boxes will help you avoid irritating the tooth extraction sites, which can slow recovery and lead to complications like dry socket.

The right foods can also make eating more comfortable — a definite plus after teeth extraction.

The following foods should be easy to swallow while also delivering nutrients and calories your body needs during recovery. The list starts with the softest foods and builds toward choices that may be better tolerated after a few days.

Ice cream: Let’s start with the fun stuff! (You did just have surgery, after all.) A scoop of creamy ice cream can help soothe mouth discomfort. But keep to basic ice cream, and avoid varieties with crunchy or ooey-gooey add-ins.
Smoothies: A blended smoothie walks the line between liquid and solid, which is perfect after surgery. Plus, it can be made nutrient-dense with your favorite ingredients. Eat it with a spoon, as sucking through a straw is a no-no. (More on that later.)
Yogurt: No chewing required! Plus, yogurt is cool enough to ease pain in your gums. Again, no crunchy add-ins.
Applesauce: The smooth texture of applesauce makes it a go-to food after your wisdom teeth come out. (As you might expect, it’s better to stay away from chunky applesauce that may require some chewing.)
Mashed bananas: Mush up a banana and it can be eaten with minimal mouth movement. Plus, its mild flavor means it probably won’t irritate your open wounds.
Soups: A brothy soup can provide nutrients without irritating the extraction site. Keep chunky ingredients to a minimum — and remember to let that bowl cool down before taking a spoonful.
Mashed potatoes: Want to fill your belly with comfort food while you recover? Soft and fluffy mashed potatoes can get the job done while taking it easy on your mouth.
Scrambled eggs: Fluffy and tender, protein-rich scrambled eggs will fill your belly without putting stress on your healing areas.
Oatmeal: A simple bowl of warm oatmeal can offer gentle comfort while satisfying your hunger. But try to make it smoother in texture instead of chewy.
Soft pasta: Cooking pasta until it’s oh-so-tender can give you a filling meal while dealing with a still-sore mouth a few days in. Make sure to let the pasta cool before eating. Keep any sauces mild. (Think butter and olive oil instead of marinara.)
Soft flaky fish: Once you’re beyond the first few days of recovery, a flaky fish like cod or tilapia is a good and substantial option. Fish is tender and breaks apart easily when chewing.

Foods to avoid after wisdom teeth removal

Your goal in the days after surgery will be to avoid eating anything that slows healing. That includes foods that dislodge the protective blood clots that form in the extraction sites to keep out bacteria.

Plus, let’s be honest here: Nibbling on the wrong foods can just hurt. “You’ll feel it if you eat something you shouldn’t,” cautions Dr. Martinez. “It can hurt a lot.”

Try to stay away from:

Crunchy food: Munching on crunchy foods (like chips or crackers) can scrape the areas where you just had teeth removed, which won’t be a pleasant feeling. Hard pieces can also get lodged in the healing area and cause discomfort.
Hard food: It takes force to bite and chew hard food (like nuts or raw carrots), which can put painful pressure on areas where wisdom teeth once resided. There’s a risk of hard pieces of food getting trapped in the extraction sites, too.
Chewy food: Food that requires prolonged chewing (like bagels or jerky) can strain your jaw and put extra stress on the healing areas. They may also get stuck in or near freshly removed tooth spots.
Hot food: Eating high-temperature foods (like hot soup or a baked casserole) might loosen the clot in the open tooth hole and trigger bleeding. Hot food also can increase swelling and make a sore mouth hurt more.
Spicy food: Ever drip a little hot sauce on an open cut? It stings a lot. Expect the same burning sensation if spicy foods (like some salsa or curry) come in contact with your post-surgery mouth.
Sticky food: Foods that cling to your teeth and gums (like peanut butter or marshmallows) can be difficult to clean away, especially near the extraction sites. Chewing sticky foods also may disturb or pull at the surgical site.
Small food: Itsy-bitsy foods (like rice or seeds) are prone to getting trapped in the extraction sites, which can lead to irritation and infection.
Alcohol: Tipping back an alcoholic beverage can interfere with the clotting you need to close tooth extraction sites. It can also increase your risk of bleeding. Plus, alcohol doesn’t mix well with pain medications or antibiotics.
Sipping drinks through straws: The suction created by drinking with a straw can undo blood clots and lead to in extraction sites. Those clots offer protection to allow for healing. Losing one can lead to dry socket.

The good news when it comes to that list? Everything can be back on the table once your mouth heals in about a week. Slowly add foods back in as your mouth feels better and you eat with no issues.

“It’s only a temporary adjustment,” reassures Dr. Martinez, “but it’s a necessary one.”