After oral surgery, it is common to feel a sense or soreness or weakness in your jaw. Depending on the severity of your surgical procedure, this feeling may last for a few hours or a few days.  Additionally, as a result of the anesthesia, patients often maintain a feeling of nausea for at least a few hours after the procedure ends. Considering all of this, your diet may seem trivial, but focusing on what you eat afterward can help make the healing process less painful and faster. Likewise, eating the wrong things could cause major discomfort or complications.

Nourishing your body is one of the most important things that you can do at this time. Your body is generally weak after surgery and will be in need of nutrients to help it function. Making sure to give your body what it needs will not only help it heal faster, but will also help you feel better.

What to Avoid

Spicy, sweet, crunchy, or sticky foods should be avoided after oral surgery. Mechanically speaking, your sore jaw will have a difficult time chewing these items.  Moreover, these foods can also affect the healing process causing additional pain and discomfort. Also, bits of the food could end up in the sockets. Avoid foods such as:

• Rice
• Oatmeal
• Popcorn
• Nuts/Seeds

Lastly, you should avoid straws for 2-3 days after the surgery. The suction from a straw can cause a dry socket.

What You Can Eat

Soft foods are the way to go as they are easily swallowed. They shouldn’t irritate your mouth, and may in fact, sooth your throat. Examples of foods you can eat:

• Smoothies (avoid fruits with lot of little seeds like strawberries and blackberries)
• Apple Sauce
• Mashed Potatoes
• Ice cream (preferably without nuts for all you Rocky Road lovers) or Sherbert
• Soups (make sure it is not too hot)
• Macaroni and Cheese is also a popular option (may not sooth as much, but who doesn’t like Mac’n’Cheese?)

Finally, It is important to consider your intake of vitamins and minerals at this time. Prepared drinks, like Ensure, are packed with important nutrients that your body requires to function. These drinks are easy to swallow and will keep you nourished as you recover. Do not skip meals as it is important to give your body the nutrients that it needs to heal!

If you have any additional questions regarding what to eat after your oral surgery, be sure to ask your dentist for more information.