High school is around the time teenagers begin getting their wisdom teeth removed. There is always fear about the pain levels of it and the whole “getting put to sleep idea”, but for me, I was terrified I would die of starvation. I feared I would run out of soft foods. Fortunately, everything was totally fine. Here is a list of things to eat for the first week.
Day one is going to be a bit rough. My mouth was fully numb, and I was convinced I could not swallow, so it is important to ease into it. Foods like applesauce, pudding, and yogurt were extremely easy for me to eat and did not cause any pain. It is vital to avoid super-hot foods during this time, so while broth is good, make sure it is warm or at room temperature.
Days two and three are usually peak swelling and pain days. While pain levels differ for everyone, my pain felt like soreness. I introduced mashed potatoes and gravy, which are a bit thicker but still smooth, and found myself eating lots of ice cream. Since it is recommended to only ice for the first day, I loved ice cream since it was delicious and also gave that cold sensation. Smoothies and milkshakes are also simple, easy meals to have during this stage. But use a spoon since straws can cause dry socket early on. Do not use a straw for at least a week.
On day four and five, I began to feel better, and my swelling went down significantly. Macaroni and cheese is a good food for this step, as I started to chew with my front teeth more, but it still remains a softer food. Scrambled eggs and oatmeal are also good if comfortable with introducing a bit more texture. Since both are easy to swallow, chewing and eating them with my front teeth was not difficult. Baked fish can also be incorporated into the diet, as it is softer. By day five, my soreness was completely gone, and I was back to normal with everything except the food. I continued eating the same food items as on day four.
Days six and seven I began to transition to more normal foods. It is recommended to avoid super-crunchy foods like chips and popcorn for at least 10 days. For breakfast, I could eat toast and French toast normally. Foods like sandwiches are good to eat as long as the bread is not too crusty. Shredded chicken and rice can be eaten in smaller bites. Most people are transitioning to normal foods by this time, so anything that is not too crunchy or hard should be okay to eat, as long as bites are smaller and sockets are avoided.
