Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that grow out in our late teens or twenties. For some people, wisdom teeth may come in even later.
As already mentioned, wisdom teeth can get impacted or misaligned. Misaligned means they may be horizontal, angled, or away from the second molars. All of these conditions may cause damage to the adjacent teeth, nerves, and jawbones.
Similarly, an impacted wisdom tooth may be enclosed in soft tissue or the jawbone and have a small opening on the gum. This small opening in the skin of the gum can become an entry point for bacteria, which can cause swelling, pain, stiffness, and discomfort. Partially erupted wisdom teeth are also difficult to clean and may get decayed.
After removing wisdom teeth, it is imperative to have a selective diet for two reasons: you need to get the right nutrition for the wound to heal properly, and you be able to chew on hard food items.
The following food items should be consumed after teeth removal.
Greek Yogurt is a healthy food item that you can relish after your wisdom tooth removal. Yogurt is high in protein, which has been proven to aid in the recovery process. Furthermore, it has a smooth texture, which may help in numbing the mouth. It also provides important nutrients like calcium, vitamins, and zinc.
You can consume it cold to help with pain and eat it as much as you like until your wound heals.
[Read: Natural Remedies For Tooth Sensitivity]
Blended soups with nutritious vegetables like tomato, spinach, pumpkin, and peas can be great to eat after tooth removal. These soups are loaded with vitamins and nutrients and are also smooth in texture. Therefore, they do not irritate the wound and offer an ample amount of energy needed by the body. Soups also perform the important job of keeping the body hydrated.
Blended soups can be made with the vegetables of your choice and can be had any number of times in a day until your extraction wound heals. Just make sure that there are no chunks in your soup because they may get lodged in the wound and cause problems like pain and infection.
Applesauce is a good way of getting the nutrients of an apple without having to chew on it. It is a good source of Vitamin C and may help boost the immune system.
You can consume smooth, textured apple sauce at least once a day to receive the much-needed nutrition of apple and some energy for the body. You have to ensure that the apple sauce does not have any chunks to chew or may get lodged in the wound.
Ice creams(1) are a good choice when recovering from a wisdom tooth. Medical professionals recommend them for their cold temperatures, but they are not a nutritious choice because of their sugar content.
You can go for healthy ice creams or make some at home for yourself. Any fruit ice cream with less sugar will be great for recovery. Also, the cold temperature will alleviate the pain faster.
Smoothies can come to your rescue when you are struggling to eat/chew solids. Smoothies are highly versatile because they can be made with any fruit, yogurt, dry fruits, protein powders, and milk. They are delicious and offer a wide range of nutrients needed by the body during recovery.
They are easy to make and easy to consume and can be had any number of times in a day. You can also make smoothies with vegetables, just ensure that the smoothie is thoroughly blended.
[Read: Get Rid Of Tooth Decay]
Hummus(2) is a dip savored all across the globe. This is a dip from the middle eastern cuisine that has chickpeas as the core of the recipe. It is loaded with healthy fats, protein, and minerals and is a great food to eat after wisdom tooth removal.
You can create your own hummus by blending chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, garlic, and lemon in a food processor. Eat it alone, without any crunchy food to help your wound heal faster.
Avocado fruit brims with healthy fats, vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium. A study conducted on animals found that it fastens wound healing. There has been no study on humans, but according to medical experts, the findings of animal studies are promising enough for humans.
Avocado is a soft fruit, so it can be eaten raw. However, you can mash it up and whip it. The point is to avoid chunks.
Bananas are one of the first semi-solid food items introduced to babies. This fruit is easy to chew and has many vitamins and minerals like vitamin B6, folate, manganese, and potassium.
Banana is an ideal food item to consume after dental surgery. This fruit goes in effortlessly. For a little more comfort, you can also mash the bananas and simply swallow it.
[Read: Tea Tree Oil For Toothache]
Scrambled eggs are one of the softest food items. They offer the goodness of an egg, and their soft texture does not irritate the wound caused by wisdom tooth extraction. Eggs are high in proteins, fat, iron, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids. They also have disease-fighting nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin.
Foods like chips and cookies may get lodged in the wound caused by tooth extraction and can cause infection.
Avoid foods that require you to chew as this could aggravate the pain.
Spicy food may cause further pain and irritation.
[Read: Peppermint Oil For Toothache]
Grainy foods with seed may cause trouble by getting lodged in the wound.
Alcohol may interact with the prescribed medication or may irritate the wound.
It is important to eat soft and nutrient-rich foods after wisdom tooth extraction. They help the wound to heal faster, prevent irritation and pain, and keep you comfortable as you go on with your daily routine. If you are having your wisdom teeth extracted, it will be good to stock up your pantry with the foods mentioned above.
No, everyone does not get all wisdom teeth. Some people may get all four, while others may develop three, two, or just one teeth.
It usually takes 7-10 days for the wound to heal. However, people experience shorter or longer recovery time based on their underlying medical conditions and body types.