For anyone planning on having surgery before the holidays, schedule it ahead when possible so meals and events are easier to manage. So, if you thought you would miss out on holiday food during recovery, think again. Here are a few of the best things to eat during the holidays after oral surgery. Prepare your diet and travel plans around the procedure.
Mashed potatoes as soft foods
Mashed potatoes are probably one of the first foods you thought about when it comes to a big holiday dinner. Good thing that these wonderful mountains of mouthwatering potatoes are on the safe list to eat this holiday season, since they’re gentle on the mouth and can help reduce discomfort while healing.
Aside from being soft enough, potatoes are also rich in calories and nutrients, which is essential for proper healing, and patients should stick to soft foods like mashed potatoes and other foods you can eat after wisdom teeth surgery for several days after surgery.
Green Beans
Not only are green beans a nice low-calorie side, they can also fit as you move back toward a more normal diet and begin trying slightly firmer foods.
Tender green beans are a good source of vitamin C, fiber, Vitamin K, and folate. For patients recovering, they can be a smart post-surgery choice if you still chew carefully and follow a best post-oral surgery care routine and wait for guidance from your oral surgeon or dentist before adding foods that require more chewing.
Yams
Baked Yams
Baked yams are yet another delicious dish that makes for a smart post-oral surgery holiday choice. Fortunately, they fit a soft-food recovery plan and can pair well with what to eat for breakfast after wisdom teeth removal during the rest of the day. Yams alone have a lot of nutrients and antioxidants that help fight inflammation, which can also support oral health during healing. They have many benefits and are quite healthy, if you avoid eating them with marshmallows, that is.
Pie during the holiday season
Alright, we have saved the best for last. PIE! Holiday celebrations often feature rich foods and drinks that can irritate fresh surgical sites, but as long as there are no nuts or seeds in it, pie can still be part of the holiday fun with family or friends while you rest after surgery. Keep your head elevated while resting to help prevent swelling. Pie is typically soft enough and uses little to no chewing. While you recover, relax, watch a movie, or participate in card games instead of active games, since spending time with loved ones can support recovery. Soft and sweet, let your recent surgery be the excuse for eating too much pie.
For more recovery tips, remember that swelling often peaks around day two before it starts to improve. If you are eating other soft foods, it is best to start with soup, yogurt, or scrambled eggs, stay hydrated, avoid straws, and skip sugary or dairy-heavy drinks. Also avoid alcohol while taking strong pain medications.
Foods to avoid after oral surgery
After the procedure, patients should rest and avoid strenuous activities to limit swelling, pain, and discomfort, and in some cases follow specific sinus precaution instructions after upper jaw extractions. There are unfortunately foods that will need to be avoided or eaten with caution. You will want to be cautious with meat as it tends to be too tough to chew. With stuffing, some are made with hard bits and chunks which can get stuck in sites and cause irritation, and some foods can bother the mouth, especially spicy foods, so it is best to start with soup, yogurt, or scrambled eggs. These same principles appear in detailed postoperative instructions for orthognathic surgery as well. Take caution with rolls. They may be soft, but they can get trapped in open wounds. Avoid things like pecan pie, or at least remove the pecans before eating. Avoiding nuts and seeds is key to healing. Taking time to recover for several days helps patients move back toward turkey and other firmer foods safely.
To set up a consultation or appointment, discuss your travel plans with the doctor, and visit our contact page or call our office at (435) 238-7083; car or train travel is usually okay after a couple of days of rest. Flying may require a few extra days of recovery because air pressure can worsen discomfort after surgery.