Oral surgery, whether planned or unplanned, needs preparation. Apart from the obvious physical and psychological preparation, there is also the nutritional preparation. This means that post surgery you should eat only certain kinds of foods.
It is important that your diet post oral surgery consists of soft, nutritious foods, so that you can not only recover quickly from your surgery, but you can promote faster healing. However, this does not mean that you should starve yourself post oral surgery!
You should have a balanced, nutritious diet, consisting of proteins, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and starches. Whether you are having a liquid diet, or a soft, nutritious diet, you should ensure that you are consuming adequate nutrients.
This is extremely important as dietary protein will help you heal faster. So, get creative when it comes to your diet post oral surgery, so that the latter does not get too monotonous and boring. For example, if you are having a fruit smoothie, you can add protein powder to it so you get all of your nutrients in one go, without compromising on the taste.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the different foods you should eat after your oral surgery…
- Soup: This sounds obvious but it is good to be prepared with your favorite hearty soup post oral surgery. While you may not feel like having soup, it is a good source of protein. However,ensure that there are not a lot of large chunks of vegetables or meat in the soup, as you may not be able to chew after your oral surgery for a day or two. Some of the soups you can eat after your surgery include cream of celery soup, chicken noodle soup, tomato soup, and beef broth.
- Mashed Potatoes: These contain a lot of fiber and are good to have post oral surgery. Just be sure that you whip them into a semisolid consistency without large lumps, to create a delicious meal that is easy to eat. You can also add butter, sour cream or gravy to your mashed potatoes for greater variety.
- Yogurt: This is a must after oral surgery. Its smooth and light consistency make it an ideal food but avoid yogurt with granola that is too sharp to your tender gums. You can have fruit-flavored yogurt to give you all the nutrients you need with a great taste.
- Smoothies or Milkshakes: These are packed with protein and nutrients. You can also add protein powder to your smoothie or your milkshake. You can create milkshakes and smoothies with fresh, seedless fruits like bananas. Do not use fruits like raspberries as their seeds can get impacted in the surgical areas, preventing rapid healing. Also, do not consume smoothies and milkshakes with a straw, as this can create pressure that can disrupt healing and even cause dry socket.
- Instant Oatmeal: You can eat instant oatmeal, combined with sugar, syrups, and jams to create a quick and delicious meal post oral surgery. If you want to eat something with a smoother consistency than oatmeal, try cream of wheat or grits.
- Applesauce: This contains a lot of Vitamin C and dietary fiber. Also, you do not need to chew a lot while eating applesauce, which will hasten healing and prevent soreness. You can even create applesauce at home to make it even healthier than the off-the-shelf variety.
- Jell-O or Pudding: This is another easy-to-eat food that comes in different flavors for greater variety. You can even mix and make Jell-O or pudding and keep it in the refrigerator prior to your surgery.
- Ice Cream: Stick to soft-serve ice-cream in your favorite flavor immediately after oral surgery. Its coolness calms the inflamed area and promotes quicker healing. Do not eat cones, as they may cause irritation at the site of the surgery. As you heal you can tackle more flavors.
- Scrambled Eggs: These are a great source of protein and are smooth and can be easily ingested. You can add some cheese or other items as well to give you more variety.
So, now you know what to eat after your oral surgery and why. If your oral surgery is planned, you can stock your refrigerator and pantry with these foods, so that you are well prepared for eating well and sensibly post your oral surgery.
If you have questions regarding your nutrition post oral surgery do contact your dentist. We, at Harbour Pointe Oral Surgery, perform different kinds of oral surgery and are happy to offer nutrition consults for our patients. Here’s to rapid healing after oral surgery!
For more information on dental surgery procedures and nutrition information, consult Dr. Brian Hart and Dr. Kathleen Isdith at 425-353-1009 or at hporalsurgery@gmail.com.