99 Foods To Eat After Dental Surgery, Implants, or Wisdom Teeth Extractions

“What do I eat after dental surgery?”, is a common question asked by many patients. Dental surgery can be a daunting task but the recovery can be even more stressful if you don’t know what to eat. Sarasota Dentistry has compiled a list of foods to eat following dental surgery, dental implants or wisdom teeth extractions. These foods are also good for patients having periodontal surgery. Keep in mind that each surgery is different and you should follow your dentist’s post-operative instructions regarding what is acceptable to eat. Some surgeries require a patient to be on a liquid diet for so long and then progress to soft foods. Any of the foods to eat after dental surgery listed below can be liquified using a blender – our favorite is the Vita-mix. These liquifying blenders can also make a variety of flavorful, healthy drinks or smoothies which can include raw vegetables that are extremely helpful in the healing process. It may not sound good, but Dr. Michael’s kids actually drink raw spinach in their smoothie and they like it! It just depends what else is mixed with it… Be adventurous!

Comprehensive List of Foods To Eat After Dental Surgery, Implants, or Wisdom Teeth Extractions

    1. Applesauce
    2. Avocado
    3. Baby Food
    4. Baked Beans – mashed if necessary
    5. Black Beans – mashed if necessary
    6. Baked Apples
    7. Bananas
    8. Biscuits – flakey, soft or soaked to become softafter surgery biscuit
    9. Broccoli – steamed soft
    10. Broth
    11. Butternut Squash – cooked soft
    12. Carnation Instant Breakfast Drinks
    13. Carrots -steamed soft
    14. Casseroles
    15. Cheese
    16. Cheesecake
    17. Clams and Clam Chowder

after dental surgery clam chowder

    1. Cold Cereal – soaked in milk until soft
    2. Cottage Cheese
    3. Cake
    4. Canned Peas
    5. Crab Cakes
    6. Cranberry Sauce
    7. Cream
    8. Cream of wheat – maybe a little to grainy depending on the type of dental surgery.
    9. Crème Brule
    10. Cupcake

soft cupcake after dental extraction

  1. Custard
  2. Doughnuts
  3. Ensure
  4. Eggs (poached, fried or scrambled)
  5. Egg Nog
  6. Egg Noodles
  7. Egg Salad
  8. Fettuccine
  9. Fish
  10. Frozen Yogurtfrozen yogurt after dental surgery
  11. Fruit Juice
  12. Fruit Smoothies
  13. Fruit – soft or grind
  14. Gravy
  15. Grits – Maybe a little too grainy depending to the type of dental surgery.
  16. Ground Turkey
  17. Ground Beef/Pork
  18. Ground Chicken
  19. Guacamole
  20. Humus
  21. Ice cream
  22. Jell-O
  23. Juice vegetable
  24. Kefir
  25. Key Lime Pie
  26. Macaroni and cheese
  27. Malt-0-meal
  28. Mangos
  29. Mascarpone Cheese – Consider using it with soft scones (beat 1 (3 oz of cheese, 1 tsp powdered sugar, and 1 cup heavy whipping cream)
  30. Mashed potatoes
  31. Matzo Ball Soup
  32. Meatloaf
  33. Meatballsmeatballs after dental surgery
  34. Melons (Very Ripe)
  35. Milk Shake – Avoid using a straw
  36. Miso Soup
  37. Mousse
  38. Muffins
  39. Oatmeal
  40. pancakes
  41. Pasta – cooked very softpasta after dental surgery
  42. Pies
  43. Polenta
  44. Pot roast with vegetables – cooked to falling apart
  45. Probiotics
  46. Protein Powder – can be added to any liquid meal for added energy and healing
  47. Pudding
  48. Ramen Noodles
  49. Refried Beans
  50. Ricotta cheese
  51. Risotto
  52. Rice
  53. Sandwich Meats
  54. Scrambled Eggs
  55. Sherbet
  56. Smoothies
  57. Soft bread – soak in soup
  58. Souffle
  59. souffle after dental extractions
  60. Soup
  61. Sour Cream
  62. Spaghetti
  63. Spinach
  64. Steamed Vegetables
  65. Stewpot roast after dental implants
  66. Sweet Potatoes
  67. Tapioca Pudding
  68. Tea
  69. Tofu
  70. Tuna Salad
  71. Waffles
  72. Yellow Squash
  73. Yogurt

Foods To Avoid Following Dental Surgery, Implants or Wisdom Teeth Extractions

  • Tomatos or tomato sauce – acidic and may burn or cause pain immediately after dental surgery
  • Orange Juice – be cautious with OJ or any other acidic juices. They may cause burning or pain if ingested too soon after dental surgery.
  • Seeds – anything seedy may get stuck in a surgery site and cause discomfort or get infected.
  • Cracked Pepper – much like a seed this can get lodged and cause pain.
  • Popcorn – the corn hulls can become lodged
  • Spicy Foods – may lead to pain and discomfort
  • Crunchy or Difficult to Chew Foods – these foods may interfere with the blood clotting following dental surgery
  • Over-the-counter Mouth Rinse – it’s not a food but patients commonly use mouth rinses such as Listerine or Scope following a dental surgery and it significantly interferes with healing so it’s worth mentioning. Dentists will usually prescribe a safe mouth rinse, such as Chlorhexadine Gluconate (Peridex), flowing dental surgery.

Sarasota Dentistry Provides General, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry in Sarasota, FL

Dr. Michael has been practicing dentistry and performing dental surgery and dental implants in his home town of Sarasota since 2001. Dr. Michael and his team are committed to providing patients with the very best dental care and educating them on how to preserve their smile… especially after dental surgery. If you are a patient of Sarasota Dentistry and are having any questions regarding what you should be eating after dental surgery, please call the office at 941-929-7645 or email us today.

Dr. Hank Michael DMD
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