Can i eat mashed potatoes and gravy after tooth extraction

What Exactly Can I Eat After Oral Surgery?

To help you plan for your upcoming oral surgery, here’s a list of 5 foods that are safe to eat after such procedures.

 1. Smoothies

Probably one of the healthiest soft food choices you can make after your oral surgery in our Belmont offices is to have smoothies. Just grab your favorite blender, some ice, and pour in your favorite combinations of fruit, juice, or water. For an extra boost, add a protein supplement.

Smoothies are a great food choice for oral surgery patients because they’re easy to eat, healthy, and rich in all the vitamins your body needs as it’s recovering from your procedure. An important word of caution, though, is to avoid using a straw for drinking if you’ve had wisdom teeth extracted or general tooth extraction in preparation for dental implants. Sucking on a straw after tooth extractions can lead to an uncomfortable recovery complication called dry socket. These occur when the membrane that immediately forms over a tooth socket’s exposed jaw bone tissue gets broken. And once this healing membrane is gone, it won’t regrow, and you’ll require additional follow up appointments so our dentists can pack the tooth socket with a dressing to allow your tooth socket to heal properly.

Instead of using a straw, gently spoon-feed your smoothies if your surgery included a tooth extraction of any kind.

 2. Soups

Another healthy choice for post-op dental patients is soup. Now’s the time to enjoy some chicken noodle soup, minestrone, or a Belmont favorite – New England clam chowder. As with the precautions for drinking smoothies, make sure you don’t slurp your soups down if you had a tooth extraction; instead, carefully spoon-feed small portions to yourself.

 3. Mashed Potatoes

Forget counting carbs. When you’re recovering from oral surgery, one of the easiest food to eat is some good, homemade mashed potatoes! This downhome favorite is easy to prepare in bulk, reheat when you’re hungry, and we won’t judge you if you add extra butter in the mix or top it off with some gravy or sour cream.

 4. Yogurt

Another healthy, easy to grab option for Belmont patients is pre-packaged yogurts. You can stock up on your favorite flavors during a grocery trip before your big appointment, and grab a container and dig in when you’re hungry during recovery time.

 5. Applesauce

Finally, applesauce is a great food to eat when you have a tender surgical site healing in your mouth. Just make sure not to eat the pouches of applesauce, which require you to suck the applesauce out and may lead to dry sockets if you had a tooth extraction. Instead, buy a package of individual servings or a large jar so you can dish out your desired serving size when you’re hungry.

Contact Us if You Need Any Help Planning Your Meals Post Surgery

As you’re preparing for your surgery day, feel free to call our Belmont offices if you find yourself wondering what’s on the approved list of menu items. Our staff will be happy to answer your questions and make alternative soft food suggestions if you have any dietary needs that prevent you from enjoying the foods listed above.