By age 12, most baby teeth have been replaced with adult teeth. But there are still some teeth yet to come: your wisdom teeth. The name comes from the idea that these teeth grow at a more mature age, usually between ages 17 and 21.
Many people find it painful when wisdom teeth grow in, and it’s common for them to be impacted. That means they are trapped in your jaw or under your gums. Most people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth.
If wisdom teeth are impacted; they’re not growing in the proper position; or there is evidence of pain, infection, cysts, gum disease, or decay, your dentist may recommend surgery to remove your wisdom teeth. You will likely be referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for the procedure. You’ll receive local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. Usually, removing wisdom teeth doesn’t cause much pain.
After surgery, there may be some swelling and mild discomfort, and you’ll have to modify your diet to include foods that are not painful to chew. Pain and trismus (difficulty opening the mouth) occur in about title=”>7% of people after wisdom tooth surgery, which can affect chewing, swallowing, and food intake.
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How long should you not eat before wisdom tooth removal?
Your dentist or oral surgeon will provide you with pre-operative instructions. One of the guidelines may be to avoid eating and drinking anything for 8 hours before surgery, but this will depend on the type of anesthesia they plan to use.
If your surgery is in the morning, the dentist or surgeon may advise you to have no food or liquids after midnight. Check with your dentist to know your specific guidelines.
What foods should you eat after wisdom teeth removal?
After wisdom tooth extraction, you will likely be instructed to drink lots of water and eat soft foods you can easily tolerate. Ensure you get enough protein, vitamins, and minerals because these nutrients are helpful for title=”>wound healing.
If you need to eat more or drink broth and juice, you won’t get the necessary nutrients for healing. Malnutrition is a problem in wound healing, and falling short on protein and vitamins slows the healing process.
How long should you wait before eating?
After surgery, you can eat when you feel like it, but be careful with your food choice. For the first 24 hours after surgery, eat only soft foods that require no chewing, such as yogurt or applesauce.
When can you reintroduce solid foods?
Once the pain begins to subside, you can start eating semi-soft foods that require a bit of chewing, such as bananas, avocados, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs. You will likely eat soft and semi-soft foods for a few days. Most people feel more comfortable in 3 to 4 days, but let pain be your guide. Eat what feels good, and return to eating regular food when you feel less pain.
What foods and drinks should you avoid after wisdom teeth removal?
It’s important not to drink alcohol, fruit juice, carbonated drinks like soda and seltzer, or caffeinated or hot beverages like coffee and tea. These can irritate your mouth’s surgery spots and slow the healing process.
Avoid using straws for at least a week after surgery since the sucking action can dislodge the blood clot from the tooth socket (where the tooth was removed) and cause more bleeding. You’ll also want to refrain from rinsing or spitting for the first 24 hours after surgery, as these can dislodge the blood clots from the empty tooth sockets.
If you smoke, your provider will probably advise you to refrain from cigarettes for at least 72 hours after surgery. Tobacco products can delay healing and increase the risk of complications.
What happens if you eat the wrong foods after wisdom teeth removal?
Foods that are hard, scalding, hot, chewy, crunchy, or spicy might get stuck in the socket or irritate the surgical wound, which can cause pain and bleeding and make the healing last longer. Stick with soft foods instead. You also want to avoid nuts and seeds until healed since they can get stuck in the sockets.
How long does it take to recover from wisdom teeth removal?
It can take up to 2 weeks to recover from wisdom tooth extraction, but you won’t have to eat soft foods for that long. Usually, the soft diet lasts for a few days or until you can comfortably chew again.
The bottom line
Stock your fridge and pantry with enough soft and semi-soft foods to last a few days. Try yogurt, applesauce, potatoes, and your favorite ingredients for smoothies.
Wisdom tooth surgery is relatively low risk, but call your dentist or oral surgeon if you have excessive bleeding, fever, or severe swelling that worsens after three days. Also, contact your provider if you are still waiting to chew after a few days. They will advise on the best next steps.
