While a hearty meal might be tempting after a long visit to the dentist’s office, your dentist or oral surgeon at Rockcliffe Dental & Denture Centre might recommend that you eat only soft foods following specific dental procedures. For example, after the placement of dental implants or a wisdom tooth extraction, a soft food diet is necessary in order to allow for your bone and gum tissues to heal.
Below, you will find a list of the best soft foods to eat after dental surgery or other procedures to keep you full and support the healing process.
Why are Soft Foods Necessary?
Oral surgery may include dental implant placement, tooth extraction, bone graft or gum graft surgery, wisdom teeth removal, or a root canal. After the treatment, your jaw and mouth can feel sore, and eating soft foods after dental surgery will help to reduce irritation on an open wound and avoid biting on the treated tooth. As such, a soft food diet helps to ensure proper healing and recovery after the surgery.
Best Soft Foods to Eat After a Dental Surgery
While a soft food diet may seem limited, the truth is that there is a wide variety of nutritious and delicious foods that don’t require much chewing. As such, the American Dental Association recommends sticking to these soft foods after dental surgery:
Oatmeal or cream of wheat- Cream or pureed soups
- Soft scrambled eggs
- Cottage cheese and soft cheeses
- Smoothies and shakes
- Ice cream and frozen yogurt
- Greek yogurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Well-cooked pasta
- Ground beef and soft fish
- Tuna or chicken salad (no celery!)
- Soft fruits like raspberries and kiwi
- Steamed or roasted vegetables
Keep in mind that the temperature of the foods you eat can also affect the healing process. For example, sipping a hot beverage like tea or coffee can irritate the gum tissue around the surgery site and complicate the recovery process. Try to drink warm drinks and eat warm soup, not piping hot!
Choosing the Right Soft Foods to Encourage Healing
According to the University of Michigan, consuming a balanced diet with sufficient amounts of protein can help your body heal. Protein is an important building block that helps to repair muscle, tissue, and skin.
When it comes to soft foods after dental surgery, consider these nutritious options:
- Soups with chicken or beef broth are an excellent source of protein.
- Protein powder mixed with water or milk is a good option to easily get more protein.
- Mashed avocado is rich in healthy fats and easy to eat.
- Kiwi, peaches, and strawberries are easy to chew and high in Vitamin C, which is necessary to repair tissues.
What Foods NOT to Eat after Dental Work
While recovering after your dental surgery, be mindful of certain food groups that should be avoided:
Certain drinks. Avoid drinks like alcohol, coffee, as well as carbonated and hot beverages.- Spicy foods. Spicy foods can irritate the gums and lead to pain and discomfort.
- Orange juice. Orange and other acidic juices can cause burning and irritate the surgical site.
- Tomatoes and tomato sauce. Similar to orange juice, tomatoes are acidic and may lead to pain and burning when they come in contact with a surgical site.
- Popcorn. Popcorn hulls can hurt the gums and get stuck near the treatment area.
- Seeds. Any seeds can get stuck in the surgical site and lead to discomfort or injection.
- Cracked pepper. Similar to seeds, this can get lodged and lead to pain.
- Difficult to chew or crunchy foods. These foods can disturb the blood clotting after the surgery.
In addition, make sure not to drink from a straw for a week, as the sucking motion can dislodge the blood clot and lead to a painful condition called “dry socket.” Also, avoid smoking for at least 24 hours after oral surgery in Ottawa, as this could impede the healing process.
Soft Food Options Throughout the Day
While you might have to give up popcorn and crunchy apples for some time, it doesn’t mean that you have to eat the same thing with every meal. Of course, eating ice cream or sipping on milkshakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is tempting. However, these options are high in sugar, which, in turn, can increase your risks of getting gingivitis and dental decay.
Instead, consider other, healthier alternatives of soft foods after dental surgery:
Breakfast:
- Oatmeal or cream of wheat
- Low-sugar yogurt
- Soft scrambled eggs
- Cottage cheese
- Soft cheeses
Lunch:
- Lentil soup
- Butternut squash
- Mashed potatoes
- Well-cooked pasta
- Chicken or tuna salad
Dinner:
- Steamed soft vegetables like peas or squash
- Tilapia or other white fish
- Grits or polenta
- Ground beef
Introducing Crunchy Foods Back into the Diet
Your dental surgeon in Ottawa will let you know when you can start introducing hard or crunchy foods
back and revert to your regular diet. Make sure to ask your dental professional for specific instructions and follow the aftercare tips to keep your mouth healthy and support the healing process.
Learn More About Dental Surgery at Rockcliffe Dental & Denture Centre
If you are still wondering what soft foods to eat after dental surgery or any other type of dental procedure, don’t hesitate to reach out and consult one of the experienced Ottawa oral surgeons working at Rockcliffe Dental & Denture Centre. Give us a call today.
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