If you are recovering from a fractured jaw, you will not be able to chew. Your doctor will treat your broken jaw by either realigning the broken pieces with wires or using metal plates and screws. Good nutrition is essential during this critical healing time. Following a liquid diet is vital so that you do not loosen any sutures, plates and screws you may have in place.
Significance
The normal healing time for a fractured jaw is six to eight weeks. If you were hoping to lose weight, you are in luck. It is not uncommon to lose up to 10 percent of your body weight during recovery, according to Dr. Frederick L. Steinbeck's website.
Considerations
Your diet will be largely based on your healing time and the type of repair performed. You will need a blender or food processor to prepare your liquid meals. Do not use spices or herbs until the incisions in your mouth from your jaw wiring have begun to heal. Your goal is to include as many nutrients and calories as possible in the liquids that make up your meals. Not only do you need to take in adequate nutrients, you also need to take any medications you normally use in pill form. Speak with your health care provider about alternative ways of taking your usual medications. Consider a liquid multivitamin as well.
Types of Liquids
Immediately after your jaw repair, you will experience swelling and pain. Begin your postoperative diet with thin, clear liquids that you can easily swallow. Suggestions include tea, coffee, juice, soda, water, bouillon and broth, which you will drink with a straw. As your swelling decreases, increase your diet to full liquids, which have more body, and then to a soft diet. Examples include milk, yogurt drinks and milk shakes.
You can blend soft foods into liquids. Foods including mashed potatoes, purees of vegetables and fruits, cream soup, cottage cheese, baby food and applesauce are good choices. Add chicken, vegetable or beef broth, or tomato juice to protein before blending. Tofu and other soy-based products are good soft protein choices. Add fruit juice to pureed fruits, or bananas to fruit juice, and blend to make a smoothie. Vary your choices so that you get as many nutrients and calories as possible.
Sample Meal
Because protein is important for healing, it is useful to add it whenever possible. A sample lunch might include cooked hamburger blended with beef broth, spaghetti blended with tomato sauce, a blended fruit cocktail and milk. You will need to drink each food separately, which means your lunch will consist of three to four cups of blended liquid. For more information, meal suggestions and recipes, see the "Jaw Surgery Cookbook" compiled by Dr. Steven Sullivan and Dr. Kevin Smith of the Oral Facial Surgery Center.
Warning
When you are eating, keep blunt scissors readily available. In an emergency, cut the bands that hold your jaw in place if you begin to choke. The experts at the Mayo Clinic suggest that you see your doctor as soon as possible to have the bands replaced. If you choose to use liquid supplements or add powdered supplements to other blended drinks, read the ingredient list carefully, especially if you have any food allergies.
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