Now that you are having your wisdom teeth removed by our dentist in SW Calgary, you are probably excited at the prospect of spending a couple days on your couch with a cup of ice cream in your hand. This is good! Giving yourself time to heal after undergoing a wisdom teeth extraction near you is important, and choosing foods that will be safe and soothing for your mouth and gums will aid in the healing process. When you get wisdom tooth surgery, you will be given detailed instructions on how to look after yourself immediately following your procedure, and these instructions will include the best menu choices.
While ice cream is great for you, some other foods aren’t so great. In this article, our team at Apple Dental Group will share some of the foods that you should keep off of your post-wisdom teeth removal shopping list.
Spicy Foods
Even if you typically like a good kick to your food, you will need to avoid it altogether for the first couple of days following your wisdom teeth extraction in SW Calgary. Spicy and acidic foods can irritate your already sensitive gum tissue.
Crunchy and Small Foods
Any small particles, such as grains or seeds, or items such as crackers, popcorn, and nuts, can wind up stuck in the socket where the tooth was removed. These can interfere with the blood clot that forms in the socket to protect it as it heals. If the clot becomes dislodged, a painful condition referred to as “dry socket” can develop.
Sticky Foods
Sticky, chewy, and crunchy foods can cause a lot of irritation at the extraction site, so focus on sticking to a soft food diet until you have healed. Now is an excellent time to try all of the pudding flavors at your local grocery store.
Steamy Foods
Much like crunchy and small foods, hot foods and drinks can disturb the protective blood clot that forms at the extraction site. Speak to a dentist near you about the best time to go back to drinking your hot morning coffee. Until then, perhaps drink it iced.
Alcoholic Beverages
Mixing alcohol and pain medication, and antibiotics can be dangerous. Even without pain medication in the mix, studies have shown that alcohol use can slow healing, so lay off the drinks until you are completely healed.
Straws
While we know this isn’t a food item, we had to include it. Straws are a definite no-go when it comes to healing after wisdom tooth surgery. Any kind of suction in your mouth increases the chances of dislodging the blood clot that has formed at the extraction site to begin the healing process. So if you want to enjoy a milkshake, go right ahead, but eat it with a spoon, not a straw.
Speak to a Dentist
Follow our suggestions for a soothing, safe diet, and you will be back to yourself in no time. If you have any more questions about how to promote your healing after getting your wisdom teeth extracted, please do not hesitate to reach out to our dedicated team of dental professionals at Apple Dental Group today. In the meantime, rest, relax and enjoy all the pudding you can get your hands on. Doctor’s orders!