No one likes to hear that they need an extraction, gum graft, or other form of oral surgery. However, following the rules and guidelines following your procedure can help you enjoy a successful recovery. In fact, eating the right foods can even be fun! If you have undergone – or are about to undergo – oral surgery in Denver, allow our team at Metropolitan Dental Care to recommend what to eat after oral surgery.
Foods to Eat
Following oral surgery, the soft tissues inside your mouth may be a bit irritated and sensitive. Therefore, the foods we recommend will be soft or cool. While we encourage you to take this opportunity to drink lots of milkshakes and eat lots of ice cream, it is also important to obtain adequate nutrition. These suggestions should help you do just that.
Soft Foods
Broths and soups are excellent choices for soft foods after dental surgery. If it is within 48 hours of your surgery, we recommend allowing the soup to cool off a bit more before enjoying. Foods that are piping hot can cause the tissues to become more tender. Lukewarm is best. Patients who have undergone oral surgery in Denver do not have to maintain a liquid diet. In fact, there are several soft food options that can help you through your recovery period. Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fish, soft bread, pudding, canned fruit, rice, oatmeal, and yogurt are all excellent choices.
Cool Foods
Cooler foods can be soothing to the soft tissues. This includes things like ice cream, sherbets, sorbets, milkshakes, smoothies, popsicles, and more. Whenever you drink something, use a spoon instead of a straw. This will help avoid excess pressure on the surgical site and keep any stitches intact until they are ready to come out.
Foods to Avoid After Dental Surgery
As you might imagine, there are also certain foods you should stay away from after oral surgery in Denver. Hard, crunchy, or spicy foods can irritate the surgical sites and lead to unnecessary discomfort.
Crunchy Foods
Foods like chips, popcorn, and hard crackers can become wedged in the surgical site, leading to discomfort and increased swelling. This can also dislodge blood clots in cases of extractions, resulting in dry sockets.
Hard Foods
While you won’t be on a liquid diet, there are certain solid foods you will want to avoid for a few days. Hard foods like candy, nuts, corn on the cob, and raw fruits and vegetables can be too difficult to eat immediately after oral surgery.
Hot and Spicy Foods
Foods that are excessively hot or spicy can quickly irritate the gums, cheeks, tongue, and other soft oral tissues. Additionally, foods that are hot in temperature can break down necessary blood clots prematurely and impede your healing.
Other Tips and Tricks
There are a few other recommendations that can help make your oral surgery in Denver a breeze. For example, apply a cold compress to the external jaw in 20-minute increments for the first 24 hours. This will help soothe the area and reduce inflammation. You can also take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories to minimize swelling and discomfort. It is also a good idea to rest as much as possible for the first day or two, and avoid any strenuous activity for about 48 hours, as exercise and heavy lifting can result in increased bleeding, swelling, and discomfort.
Contact Us for More Information
To learn more about what food to eat after oral surgery, reach out to one of our team members. As always, our dentists are standing by to help residents in and around Denver, CO. You can contact us online or call us at 303-534-2626.
