When Can I Eat Normally After Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

After having a wisdom tooth removed, one of the most frequent inquiries patients ask is, “When can I eat normally again?” If you’re recovering from this procedure, you probably also want to know how soon you can go back to savoring the foods you love. In this article, we will walk you through the healing process, the best food to eat while you are getting better, and when it is OK for you to return to your normal eating habits.

The healing process starts almost immediately when you get your wisdom teeth taken out of them. Eventually, you will be completely healed, and what you eat in that time while you are healing can make a big difference in your comfort and overall recovery. The first few days are critical, during which time your body is forming blood clots and starting to knit the extraction sites back together.

You may undergo swelling, soreness, and slight bleeding, which is all regular during this time. While the thought of returning to normal eating in no time can be tempting, however, forcing the process could form complications such as dry socket or delayed healing.

The First Few Days: Soft Foods Only

During the first 48 to 72 hours immediately following your wisdom tooth extraction, the extraction sites will be very sensitive. Ordering normally after your surgery is out of the question since your suches are still healing. In this phase, you should focus on soft foods, which don’t need much chewing. Consider mashed potatoes, yogurt, smoothies (without any seeds or bits of fruit), soups and scrambled eggs.

Why It Matters: The blood clots must remain in place to heal. Hard foods can jostle these clots and put you at risk for dry socket, a painful condition in which the blood clot gets dislodged.

Days 4 to 7: Gradual Introduction to More Foods

Most people get better after the first few days, and the pain begins to fade away. But that doesn’t mean you should leap straight into solid food. You can start adding more textured foods but avoid any that might require a lot of chewing, or chewing intensely, such as raw vegetables, nuts or popcorn. Some good options include:

Pasta (soft and well-cooked)
Oatmeal (smooth and lukewarm)
Fish (such as salmon, which is soft)
Steamed veggies (soft enough to eat)

You may also want to avoid hot foods in this phase, which can exacerbate already-swollen and irritated areas. If you’re still not sure whether a food is safe to eat, go with softer alternatives.

The One-Week Mark: Easing Back Into Your Normal Diet

In about a week, you should feel much less discomfort from the extraction. At this point, you might be ready to eat foods that need a little more chewing, including:

Chicken (tender cuts)
Bread (yes, but not crusty hard loaves, just soft)
Rice or couscous

Still, even if you’re on the mend, it’s important to continue to avoid things that are very spicy, crunchy or sticky, as these can irritate the healing tissues.

What to Avoid: Foods That Can Slow Down Recovery

There are some foods that need to be avoided to give your gums a chance to heal; at least a couple of the first weeks after surgery. These include:

Crispy and hard foods such as chips, nuts and raw vegetables. They can interfere with healing and produce discomfort.
Very sticky foods such as chewing gum, caramel or toffee. These can become embedded in the removal sites and elevate the risk of infection.
Spices may aggravate the operated area, causing discomfort, and even swelling caused by the work done.
Citrus fruits, tomatoes and other acidic foods that can irritate sensitive healing gums.

Focus keyword: If you’re asking, “When can I eat normally after wisdom tooth extraction? —it usually occurs after the first 7-10 days (of course, depends on how your recovery goes). After this time you should be able to go back to eating more normal foods.

The Healing Timeline: When You Can Eat Normally Again

Every person is different from one another, however, you should be able to resume eating as normal in 10 to 14 days after surgery. Here’s the typical timeline:

Days 1 to 3: Liquid and soft foods only.
Days 4-7: Start adding other soft foods like pasta, eggs and fish.
Days 7-10: Start eating more textured foods — light chewing things, like rice or soft sandwiches.
10-14 days later: At this stage, you can start eating most foods (if your healing is going according to plan), but it pays to avoid the hardest or most difficult-to-chew foods for a little longer.

Personal Experience: How I Managed My Wisdom Tooth Recovery

Following my own extraction of a wisdom tooth, I was more than ready to return to my regular diet, although I knew I had no choice but to proceed with caution. The first few days, I remember it being hard. My diet began to be restricted to smoothies and mashed potatoes, but, to be honest, I found it fun to taste new flavors and figure out some clever ways to get my nutrients while chewing as little as possible. I added in more textures from there, over the days, but remained careful of what I consumed.

At the end of that first week, I was finally able to enjoy soft chicken and steamed veggies, but I stayed away from hard nuts and chips for a little longer. The recovery was uncomplicated, and by day 10 I was back to eating as usual.

Tips for Faster Healing: How to Help Your Recovery

If you want to recover sooner so that you can eat normally as soon as possible, here’s what you can do:

Follow your dentist’s instructions: As with any surgical procedure, listen to your oral surgeon’s aftercare specific to your tooth extraction.
Drink plenty of fluids for hydration but refrain from using a straw for a few days.
Eat soft foods and avoid any foods that could aggravate your gums.
You can also rinse your mouth with salt water after a meal to help keep the extraction sites clean.

When to See a Dentist: Warning Signs of Complications

Although the healing process with most wisdom tooth extractions goes fine, it can be occasionally linked with complications. If you experience any of the following, it’s wise to reach out to your dentist right away:

Pain that is severe and does not respond to medication
Bleeding more heavily after the first few hours
Swelling that doesn’t subside within a few days
A foul taste or smell in your mouth (possible sign of infection)

Conclusion: When Can I Eat Normally After Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

So, how long until you’re able to eat normal foods after wisdom tooth removal? For many it’s 10-14 days. Your body has to heal and a hasty process will cause complications. Stick to soft foods and listen to your body as you recover. You’ll get back to your normal eating patterns before you know it, though patience is key.

And remember, every patient’s recovery will be different, so if you ever have a question, feel free to reach out to your dentist. Happy healing, and eat your food when it is there!