When you have one or more of your wisdom teeth removed, you will have to follow a special diet afterward so that the socket can heal. After the tooth is removed, the surgeon may place stitches in the gum to help curtail bleeding. Whether or not there is a stitch in the socket, a blood clot will form to help the socket heal. If this blood clot is dislodged prematurely or doesn't form properly, you may suffer from a condition known as dry socket, which can cause pain, notes Cincinnati Oral Surgery. Proper diet and aftercare following your wisdom tooth extraction can help to prevent this from happening.
Time Frame
Healing after a wisdom tooth extraction takes approximately three to four weeks, notes Dental Fear Central. You can expect some bleeding for the first 10 hours. You will need to eat a liquid/soft food diet for the first one to two days. Additionally, you will have to avoid hot drinks, soft drinks and spicy foods for three to four days following your surgery.
Components
To help your body heal, you should eat a nutritious, high protein diet, notes My New Smile. Chicken broth, soft chicken, soft fish, ground turkey, cooked vegetables, noodles, yogurt and other soft or liquid foods are ideal components of your diet. As you feel comfortable eating these foods, you can slowly add other foods to your diet, such as seasoned foods and firmer foods.
Considerations
It is important that you stay hydrated after your wisdom tooth extraction. You should sip on water, juice and milk throughout the day. When you drink, drink out of the cup, but don't use a straw. The suction caused in your mouth when you suck through a straw may dislodge the blood clot in the wisdom tooth socket, according to Dental Fear Central.
Prevention/Solution
When you are eating, be sure to chew on the opposite side of where the wisdom tooth socket is located. If you had wisdom teeth removed from both sides of your mouth, chew toward the front of your mouth. This will allow your gums to heal properly and you won't run the risk of food getting into the socket since you can't brush the socket until after it heals.
Warning
Avoid foods that may get stuck in the tooth socket until the socket is healed, such as rice, nuts and popcorn, according to University of Oregon Health Center. While the area heals, foods that get stuck in the socket can dislodge the blood clot, break the stitch if one was placed or irritate the socket and impede healing. You should also keep your tongue out of the empty socket to avoid irritating the socket.
References
- University of Oregon Health Center: Extraction of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
- Cincinnati Oral Surgery: Patient's Guide to Wisdom Teeth
- My New Smile: Wisdom Teeth Removal
- Dental Fear Central: Healing After Extractions and Oral Surgery
- American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: Wisdom Teeth
- Animated-Teeth.com: Tooth Extractions Aftercare
