A List of Foods to Avoid After Wisdom Tooth Removal

If you just had your wisdom teeth removed, you no doubt have swollen, sore, and sensitive gums.

It can take a few weeks to heal from wisdom tooth extraction, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS). So, you’ll want to eat soft foods and generally take it easy in the days following your procedure.

Here’s the lowdown on what foods to avoid after wisdom tooth removal for a smooth recovery.

Wisdom Tooth–Removal Diet

The surgery and recovery process are different for everyone. So, always follow your doctor’s personalized instructions when it comes to working solid food back into your post-surgery meals.

“I inform patients that there are typically no hard-and-fast rules everyone must follow,” says Louis K. Rafetto, DMD, a board-certified oral surgeon based in Wilmington, Delaware. “However, there are guidelines to avoid hard or crunchy foods in favor of foods that are soft, nourishing, and taste good.”

In general, here’s a potential timeline for your wisdom tooth–removal diet, according to the University of Washington School of Dentistry (UWSD):

• For the first two days after wisdom tooth extraction, you’ll want to stick exclusively to a liquid diet and mushy foods.
• By the third day, you can typically start eating soft foods that require just a little chewing.
• About a week after your procedure, you can likely return to normal eating.

Foods to Avoid After Wisdom Tooth Removal

To help yourself make a full recovery, see this list of foods that you’ll generally want to avoid after wisdom tooth removal.

Spicy Foods

Love a kick of hot sauce in your dishes? Sorry, but in recovery mode, you’ll want to skip spicy foods that can irritate the extraction site, according to the UWSD.

Some spicy foods to steer clear of during the first three-or-so days of your recovery include:

• Hot sauce
• Spicy peppers like chilies or jalapenos
• Spicy curries

Acidic Foods and Drinks

Similarly, it’s best to avoid high-acid foods and drinks in the first few days following your surgery, as acid may aggravate discomfort, according to the UWSD.

Acidic foods to avoid after wisdom tooth removal include:

• Citrus fruits like lemon, lime, and grapefruit
• Tomatoes
• Vinegar
• Soda and other carbonated drinks
• Coffee

Seeds and Nuts

Seeds and nuts are not the best foods to eat after you get wisdom teeth taken out. These hard, crunchy snacks can aggravate your gums and get in the way of the healing process, according to the AAOMS.

This recommendation even includes smaller, less-crunchy varieties, like chia seeds, along with breads that include seeds or nuts. That’s because small food particles can lodge in your wisdom tooth socket and irritate the surgical site, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Food debris can also contribute to a complication called dry socket. This is when the protective blood clot over the wisdom tooth socket becomes dislodged, painfully exposing your bone and nerves, and increasing your risk for an infection or delayed healing, according to Mayo Clinic.

As a result, it’s important to hold off on seeds and nuts until you’ve had more time to recover.

Other Crunchy Foods

Seeds and nuts aren’t the only crunchy snacks to beware of. Other crispy or crusty foods to avoid include:

• Popcorn
• Rice
• Chips
• Pizza (think: crispy crust)
• Hamburgers (think: crunchy toppings)

This list is by no means exhaustive. A general guideline is to avoid any food that requires forceful or excessive chewing, or any food that can break down into hard or sharp bits. The idea is to go as easy on your gums and teeth as possible for the first few days after surgery.

Chewy Candy

If you have a sweet tooth, now is not the time to snack on chewy treats like taffy or caramel, according to the AAOMS.

These candies are tricky to chew, which can place stress on your healing teeth and gums.

So if you’re craving something sweet, instead reach for something soft like pudding or ice cream. Both are among the better treats to eat for wisdom tooth–removal recovery.

Tough Meat

Most meats may also be off the table during the first few days or weeks of your recovery.

The AAOMS lists soft, finely cut fish and meat as OK to eat a few days after your procedure. However, tougher cuts like steak or jerky may require too much gnawing, which can irritate your gums and the extraction site.

Hot Drinks

Don’t have hot drinks for the first 24 hours, according to the National Health Service. They may cause the blood clot to dislodge, which can put you at risk for dry socket.

You can still sip on broth or soup after wisdom tooth removal — just make sure the meal has cooled down to room temperature before you have, say, tomato soup.

And when it comes to any fluid, avoid using straws for at least a week after your wisdom tooth–removal procedure, according to Mayo Clinic. Sucking on a straw can create negative pressure inside your mouth, which may disturb the healing extraction site and could lead to dry socket.

Caffeinated Beverages

As much as you might rely on your morning cup of coffee, it’s best to avoid caffeinated drinks for the first few days after surgery to avoid irritating your wound, according to the UMass Chan Medical School.

Also avoid other caffeinated beverages like tea, soda, and energy drinks.

Alcohol

Skip alcohol after your surgery, too. It can raise your risk for dry socket, according to Mayo Clinic.

Instead, stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, which can help support the healing process.

Foods You Can Eat After Wisdom Tooth Removal

You may be wondering what foods are OK to eat after your procedure. For instance, can you eat pancakes or oatmeal after wisdom tooth removal? (Spoiler: Yes.)

Here are some softer, safer foods to eat:

• Liquids like juice and smoothies
• Scrambled eggs
• Mashed potatoes
• Oatmeal
• Pancakes
• Smoothies
• Pudding
• Gelatin
• Ice cream
• Yogurt
• Applesauce
• Mashed bananas
• Avocados