Oral surgery often requires post-procedural recovery, which means following your dentist’s instructions to avoid complications and ensure success. These details include how to manage discomfort and properly care for your teeth and gums, but do you know what you should eat and avoid? Since a soft food diet is likely, you’ll want to find out which healthy options are available to avoid increasing your risk of cavities and gum disease.
Why Does the Dentist Recommend a Soft Food Diet?
After any oral surgery procedure (dental implant placement, tooth extraction, root canal, etc.), dentists recommend a soft food diet because your mouth needs time to heal. Dense foods can irritate the area and increase soreness because they require more force to bite and chew. Softer options help you avoid these problems and keep your mouth more comfortable during recovery.
Which Soft Foods Can You Enjoy?
You may be tempted to stick to ice cream, frozen yogurt, and other similar sweets, but too much of these delicious treats can be problematic for your oral health and recovery. Food containing lots of sugars and starches can increase your risk of dental decay and infection, which you want to avoid at all costs.
This is why it’s best to incorporate other options, such as:
- Soft fruits, such as bananas, berries, peaches, and kiwis
- Soft vegetables (cooked), such as carrots, avocados, zucchini, and peas
- Lean proteins, such as scrambled eggs, tilapia, chicken, salmon, and tuna
You might also add smoothies with protein powder and fruit, pureed soups, soft bread (in moderation), and soft cheeses.
Healthier soft foods support your recovery and overall diet. They are full of nutrients that benefit everything from your brain and smile to your gut and energy level. Any of the options mentioned above will help you get the nutrients you need while keeping you full.
There are likely to be many other recommendations your dentist can provide, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for additional tips if you need them along the way.
About the Practice
Whether you need general dentistry or oral surgery, our dentists and specialists at Attleboro Dental Group are here to make sure you have everything you need to succeed. If recovery requires a soft food diet, we can offer tips to guide you through the process, ensuring you know what to eat and what to avoid. No matter what kind of treatment you receive, you will always receive detailed post-operative instructions. If you have additional questions about recovery, visit our website or call (774) 203–4195 to schedule an appointment.
