Dental procedures can cause pain for several days. If you have recently had work done on your mouth you may not be able to chew the foods your normally include in your diet. Replacing those foods with soft foods will allow your mouth to heal properly and will help you avoid additional pain and discomfort.
Mashed Potatoes
If your mouth is sore from having teeth pulled or from other invasive procedures, your dentist will likely recommend a soft food diet to help prevent additional pain. Mashed potatoes are a common food after a dental procedure, Maurice Edward Shils and Moshe Shike report in their book, "Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease," because they are soft enough that you do not need to chew them excessively, but also supply a small amount of nutrition, including potassium and calcium. Chew them slowly and allow them to cool to room temperature because excessive heat can cause bleeding.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a nutritious food that will not irritate your mouth at the dental procedure site, Mayo Clinic notes. Yogurt supplies protein, which is beneficial for the healing process as well as for energy as you recover. Choose low-sugar yogurt because large amounts of sugar contributes to slower healing times. Similar foods, such as gelatin, pudding and frozen yogurt, are also safe foods following a dental procedure because they are soft enough to swallow without painful chewing.
Pureed Fruits and Vegetables
Eating crunchy or crispy fruits and vegetables may lead to additional bleeding and can irritate your mouth, causing more pain. Cooked and pureed fruits and vegetables are soft enough following a dental procedure to prevent painful chewing, Shils and Shike report. Applesauce is a common fruit puree that will be easy for you to consume. You can make your own fruit and vegetable purees by adding water and cooked produce to your blender and mixing until smooth. Peaches, pears, sweet potatoes and carrots are all nutritious options that may contribute to faster healing.
Soup and Broth
In the hours immediately following a dental procedure, you may not be interested in eating anything that has any texture to it. Shils and Shike suggest warm soup or broth because you can sip it slowly to help stave off hunger without damaging your wound site any further. Make sure the soup or broth is room temperature because extremely hot food can cause bleeding and additional pain. Soups should only contain soft foods, like cooked vegetables or pasta, so you do not cause further discomfort by trying to chew.
References
- "Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease"; Maurice Edward Shils and Moshe Shike; 2006
- Mayo Clinic: Wisdom Tooth Extraction
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