After wisdom tooth surgery, the healing of the wound requires meticulous care, and a reasonable diet plays a crucial role in this process. Wrong dietary choices may lead to wound infection, increased pain and delay the recovery process. A scientific diet arrangement can provide the body with necessary nutrients, promote wound healing and help you recover your health faster. Next, we will introduce in detail the suitable foods and dietary precautions according to different postoperative stages.
0-24 hours after the operation: Hemostasis and analgesia are the key
After wisdom teeth are extracted, a blood clot will form at the wound site, which is an important basis for healing. Within 0 to 24 hours after the operation, the primary goal is to avoid damaging the blood clot, prevent bleeding, and relieve pain at the same time. At this stage, the diet should follow the principle of being cold, soft and warm, and avoid chewing on the side of the wound.
Suitable food
Cold milk: Rich in protein and calcium, it can provide energy for the body and does not require chewing. When drinking, refrigerate the milk to an appropriate temperature to avoid irritation to the wound due to excessively low or high temperatures. Cold milk can not only provide nutrients for the body but also, to a certain extent, play a role in cold compress to stop bleeding.
Iced yogurt: It has a smooth texture and contains probiotics, which help regulate the intestinal flora. Choose ungranular, sugar-free or low-sugar iced yogurt and drink it slowly. The cool taste can relieve the pain of the wound and at the same time provide nutrients for the body.
Juice: Freshly squeezed apple juice, pear juice, etc. are all good choices. Be careful not to add too much sugar, and it is best to refrigerate before drinking. Juice is rich in vitamins and can enhance the body’s resistance. However, it is necessary to avoid drinking juice containing pulp particles to prevent the particles from entering the wound and causing infection.
Cold porridge water: After cooking the rice porridge, let it cool down and only drink the porridge water on the top layer. Porridge and water are light and easy to digest, do not burden the wound, and can provide a certain amount of calories at the same time.
Dietary taboos
Hot drinks and hot water: High temperatures can cause blood vessels to dilate and increase the risk of bleeding. Therefore, hot drinks or hot water must not be consumed within 24 hours after the operation.
Spicy and irritating foods: Spicy foods such as chili peppers, Sichuan pepper, and mustard can irritate wounds, intensify pain, and may even cause inflammation. They should be strictly avoided.
Hard and rough foods: Nuts, biscuits, potato chips and other hard foods need to be chewed vigorously, which can easily collide with wounds, break blood clots and cause bleeding.
Alcohol and carbonated beverages: Alcohol can dilate blood vessels and aggravate bleeding. The acidic components in carbonated beverages may irritate the wound and hinder healing. They should not be consumed within 24 hours after the operation.
One to three days after the operation: Eat gently to promote recovery
One to three days after the operation, the wound is still in the early stage of healing. Although the risk of bleeding is reduced, excessive chewing and irritation to the wound should still be avoided. At this stage, the diet should follow the principles of being light, soft and well-prepared, and rich in nutrients to ensure that the body takes in sufficient protein, vitamins and minerals.
Suitable food
Egg custard: Beat the eggs and add an appropriate amount of warm water. After steaming, it will have a tender and smooth texture and be rich in high-quality protein. When making it, you can add a little less salt for seasoning, but do not add irritating seasonings such as soy sauce or sesame oil.
Pumpkin porridge: Pumpkin is rich in vitamins and dietary fiber. After steaming the pumpkin, mash it into a paste and cook it together with rice to make porridge. It is sweet and delicious and easy to digest. Pumpkin porridge is not only rich in nutrients but also can promote intestinal peristalsis and prevent constipation after surgery.
Yam paste: Yam has the effect of strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach. Peel the yam, steam it until cooked, and then blend it into a paste. You can add an appropriate amount of rock sugar or honey according to your personal taste. The yam paste is fine and smooth, making it suitable for consumption after surgery.
Tofu pudding: Tofu pudding is rich in protein and has a soft texture, so it doesn’t need to be chewed. When eating, do not. The texture is soft and there is no need to chew. When consuming, do not add spicy oil, pickled mustard greens or other irritating ingredients. You can add a little soy sauce and sesame oil for seasoning.
Fish paste: Select fish with few bones, such as sea bass and cod, steam them until cooked, remove the bones, and then mash the fish meat into a paste. Fish meat is rich in high-quality protein and unsaturated fatty acids, which is helpful for wound healing.
Dietary taboos
Fried foods: Fried foods such as fried chicken and fried dough sticks are not easy to digest. They may also cause internal heat, aggravate wound inflammation and are not conducive to recovery.
Seafood: Shrimp, crab, shellfish and other seafood are considered “heaty” foods and can easily cause allergic reactions and inflammation at the wound site. They should not be consumed within three days after the operation.
Overly sweet foods: Cakes, candies and other overly sweet foods are prone to bacterial growth and increase the risk of oral infections. They should be eaten sparingly.
Coarse-fiber foods: Coarse-fiber foods such as celery and Chinese chives require a lot of chewing, which can pull on the wound and affect healing. They should be avoided in the early postoperative period.
4 to 7 days after the operation: Gradually transition and increase nutrition
Four to seven days after the operation, the wound began to heal gradually, and the pain and swelling were significantly reduced. At this point, on the basis of keeping the food soft and tender, you can appropriately increase the variety of food and the intake of nutrients to provide more energy for the body’s recovery.
Suitable food
Soft noodles: Cook the noodles until they are soft and tender, and then add eggs, green vegetables, tomatoes, etc. to make a light noodle soup. Noodles are easy to digest. The vegetables and eggs that come with them can provide rich vitamins and proteins.
Wontons: The wrappers of wontons are thin and the fillings are soft, making them easy to chew and digest. You can choose meat-stuffed wontons to supplement protein for your body, or pair them with vegetable-stuffed wontons to increase the intake of dietary fiber.
Steamed egg dumplings: Make egg dumplings with eggs and lean meat, and eat them after steaming. Egg dumplings are rich in nutrition and have a delicious taste, making them suitable for consumption during the postoperative recovery period.
Mashed potatoes: Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates and vitamins. After cooking the potatoes, mash them into a paste. You can add an appropriate amount of milk and butter for seasoning. It has a rich and fragrant taste and is easy to digest.
Banana puree: Bananas are rich in potassium, which can replenish the energy consumed by the body during surgery and also promote intestinal peristalsis. Peel the bananas and mash them into a paste. Eat them directly or add them to milk and stir well before drinking.
Dietary taboos
Cold and raw foods: Although the wound has recovered to some extent 4 to 7 days after the operation, cold and raw foods such as ice cream and sashimi may still irritate the stomach and intestines, affect digestive function, and be unfavorable for the body’s recovery.
Pickled foods: Pickled foods such as salted vegetables and cured meat contain a large amount of salt and nitrite, which are not conducive to wound healing and may also increase the burden on the kidneys. They should be avoided.
Large pieces of meat: Large pieces of meat such as steak and pork ribs need to be chewed vigorously. At this time, the wound has not fully healed, and excessive chewing may cause the wound to split open. They should be avoided.
Coffee and strong tea: The caffeine and theine contained in coffee and strong tea may affect sleep quality and are not conducive to physical recovery. It is best to drink less of them during the postoperative period.
More than 7 days after the operation: Be cautious when resuming a normal diet
More than 7 days after the operation, if the wound heals well and there are no abnormal conditions such as pain, swelling or bleeding, you can gradually resume your normal diet. However, it is still necessary to avoid eating hard, hot, spicy or irritating foods to prevent secondary damage to the wound.
Suitable food
Rice: Cook the rice slightly soft and pair it with light stir-fried dishes, such as stir-fried seasonal vegetables and scrambled eggs. Rice is the staple food and can provide sufficient energy for the body.
Steamed fish: Select fresh fish and cook them by steaming to retain the nutrients in the fish meat. Steamed fish has tender meat that is easy to digest, rich in protein and unsaturated fatty acids, and is beneficial for physical recovery.
Stewed dishes: such as stewed tofu with Chinese cabbage, stewed chicken pieces with potatoes, etc. Stewed dishes are soft and tender in texture, rich in nutrition, and suitable for consumption in the early stage of resuming normal diet after surgery.
Vegetable porridge: Adding various chopped vegetables such as spinach, carrots, and mushrooms to the rice porridge not only increases the intake of dietary fiber but also enriches the nutrition.
Dietary taboos
Hard and hard-to-chew foods: Nuts, sugarcane, bones and other hard and hard-to-chew foods may cause tooth damage or wound splitting due to improper chewing even if the wound heals. They should be avoided.
Spicy hot pot: The high temperature and spicy seasonings of hot pot can strongly irritate the mouth and stomach, easily causing wound inflammation and even leading to gastrointestinal discomfort. It is not advisable to consume it in the short term after surgery.
Grilled food: During the roasting process, grilled food generates harmful substances and is not easy to digest, which is not good for health. Even after resuming a normal diet after surgery, one should try to eat less of it.
Summary of dietary precautions
Keep your mouth clean: After each meal, gently rinse your mouth with clean water or the mouthwash recommended by your doctor to remove food residues in your mouth and prevent bacterial growth. However, it is important not to rinse your mouth forcefully within 24 hours after the operation to avoid disrupting the blood clot.
Eat small meals frequently: The body needs nutrition after the operation, but eating too much at one time may increase the burden on the stomach and intestines. It is recommended to adopt a method of eating small meals frequently, having 5 to 6 meals a day to ensure that the body takes in sufficient nutrients.
Pay attention to food temperature: Avoid eating food that is too hot or too cold. Food that is too hot can irritate the wound, and food that is too cold may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. The temperature of the food should be moderate or cool.
Avoid using straws: Using straws can create negative pressure, which may cause blood clots to fall off and lead to bleeding. After the operation, it is advisable to avoid drinking beverages through straws.
Observe the body’s response: During the process of eating, closely monitor the recovery of the wound and the body’s response. If abnormal conditions such as increased pain, bleeding or swelling occur, medical attention should be sought promptly and the diet adjusted.
Conclusion
The diet after wisdom tooth surgery needs to be scientifically adjusted according to the recovery stage of the wound, following the principle of gradual progress. Through a reasonable diet arrangement, provide your body with sufficient nutrition, promote wound healing, help you get rid of the discomfort caused by wisdom tooth surgery as soon as possible, and restore your health. I hope this dietary guide can help you with your food choices after wisdom tooth surgery. Wish you a speedy recovery!
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