Plan your meals before the appointment, not after. On the day of a wisdom tooth removal you will be numb, possibly drowsy and not in the mood to shop, so it helps to have a fridge stocked with things you can eat from a spoon. For the first day that means cool or lukewarm, smooth food that needs no chewing; after that, texture comes back step by step over roughly a week, guided by how your mouth feels.
The reason for all this care is the blood clot that forms in each socket. It protects the bone underneath while new tissue grows, and losing it early can lead to a painful dry socket. Our article on dry socket after an extraction describes the warning signs.
A shopping list for the first few days
Most of these keep well and need little preparation:
- plain or Greek yoghurt
- custard, rice pudding or jelly
- apple puree or other smooth fruit purees
- soups you can blend smooth and serve lukewarm
- eggs, for scrambling from the second day
- potatoes or sweet potato for mashing
- quick oats for soft porridge
- ripe bananas and avocados
- soft tofu, cottage cheese or ricotta
Add a protein drink or smoothie mix if your appetite is low. Eat smoothies with a spoon rather than a straw.
The first 24 hours: cool, smooth and no chewing
Think of food you could swallow almost without moving your jaw. Yoghurt, custard, jelly, puree and blended soup that has cooled down are all suitable. Hot drinks and hot soup are best left until the second day. The NHS advice on wisdom tooth removal also says to avoid alcohol and very hot drinks, and not to smoke, while you heal.
Do not use a straw. The suction can pull at the clot. Drink from a glass and keep sipping water through the day so you stay hydrated.
Hold off rinsing on the first day. Gentle warm salt water rinses usually start the next day, not straight away, and swishing should stay gentle.
Days two and three: soft food with a little substance
Swelling and stiffness are usually at their worst in the first few days, so meals still need to be soft. This is where scrambled eggs, mashed potato, soft porridge, mashed avocado and soft cheeses come in. They are more filling than purees and easier on a sore jaw than anything you have to bite.
Chew on the side away from the extraction sites if you can. If both sides were treated, small mouthfuls taken towards the front of the mouth are easier. After each meal, a gentle salt water rinse helps clear food from around the sockets.
Days four to seven: soft solids
By the second half of the first week, many people can manage pasta cooked until soft, flaked fish, well-cooked rice, pancakes, steamed vegetables and ripe fruit. Rice and other small grains can lodge in a socket, so rinse gently afterwards.
If chewing still hurts, there is no prize for moving on quickly. Stay with softer food for a few more days. Jaw stiffness can take a week or more to ease, and a surgical removal, where bone was removed or the tooth was sectioned, usually takes longer to settle than a straightforward one.
The second week: back to normal as comfort allows
Most people are eating close to normally by around two weeks. Bring back firmer foods one at a time and chew carefully at first. If anything causes pain over the site, leave it a few more days.
Foods worth avoiding for longer
A few things cause trouble well after the first few days:
- nuts, seeds, popcorn and chips, which leave hard fragments that can catch in a socket
- chewy lollies, tough meat and crusty bread, which pull on healing gum
- very spicy or acidic food, which can sting an open wound
- alcohol, which can slow healing and does not mix well with some pain medicines
Smoking and vaping are best avoided for as long as you can manage, as smoking is linked with a higher chance of dry socket.
Eating questions after wisdom teeth removal
Is ice cream a good idea?
Plain soft ice cream can feel soothing on the first day. Avoid flavours with nuts, chocolate chips or crunchy pieces, skip the cone, and do not drink milkshakes through a straw.
When can I have a hot coffee?
Leave hot drinks until after the first 24 hours, then start with warm rather than very hot.
What if I cannot eat much at all?
A small appetite for a day or two is common. Focus on fluids and nourishing soft foods such as yoghurt, smoothies eaten with a spoon and blended soups. If you cannot keep fluids down, or pain is getting worse rather than better after the third day, contact your dentist.
How do I keep the sockets clean?
From the day after surgery, rinse gently with warm salt water after meals and brush your other teeth as usual, taking care near the sockets. The guide to wisdom teeth stitches covers aftercare around sutures.
For a fuller picture of the weeks after surgery, see the wisdom teeth recovery timeline, and if you have a trip coming up, read about flying after wisdom teeth removal.
Something not right after your removal?
Heavy bleeding, severe or worsening pain, a bad taste or smell, fever or pus are reasons to call rather than wait. The Lumi Dental team can see you to check how the sockets are healing. Current new patient offers are on our offers page, and you can read more about our general dental care.
Sources
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for personal dental advice. Please see a dentist to discuss your own situation.
