Dental surgery can be a daunting experience, and the recovery process can be just as difficult. To ensure optimal healing of the surgical site, the American Dental Association recommends following a soft diet rich in essential nutrients. This includes foods such as apple sauce, yogurt, soups, eggs, jelly, fruit puree such as bananas or avocados, well-cooked vegetables, mashed potatoes, and milkshakes. These provide excellent health benefits without requiring any chewing.
Shakes can contain vegetables, fruits, protein powder, or yogurt to aid in recovery. If you have a lot of swelling and inflammation, try eating small pieces of salmon. This food has lots of omega-3s and other healthy fats that promote healing and reduce inflammation. Probiotic-rich cheese can also help speed up the healing process; however, it should be shredded into fine pieces before eating it.
Avocados are a powerful food packed with vitamins, potassium, and heart-healthy fats. You can add them to smoothies or other foods if you don't like the taste. Here are 15 soft foods you should eat after your wisdom teeth have been removed: soups, broths, Greek yogurt, mashed potatoes, eggs (preferably pasteurized or omega-3-enriched varieties), apples (skinless), salmon, cottage cheese, and shakes with Greek yogurt or protein powder. Studies have shown that low protein intake can impair the recovery process (5).
Therefore, shakes with Greek yogurt or a spoonful of protein powder can significantly increase protein intake. Greek yogurt is also rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals such as calcium and zinc (1). However, if your zinc level is already good, consuming more zinc may not provide you with additional benefits. Bone broth is another excellent source of food after dental surgery. While there are no direct studies on the health effects of bone broth, studies on the components of bone broth suggest that it may have anti-inflammatory benefits (2).
Dry alveolitis is a painful condition in which the clot that protects the area where the tooth was extracted breaks off; bone broth may help reduce inflammation and speed up healing (2).If you're suffering from wisdom tooth pain, here are 19 remedies for relieving wisdom tooth pain that will help you find relief at home. Eating a soft diet rich in essential nutrients such as zinc, iron and calcium will ensure optimal oral and physical health during recovery.