Wisdom teeth mark the time in your life when you’re just starting to transition from your teenage
years into young adulthood. However, unlike the wave of knowledge growing up provides,
wisdom teeth don’t really bring much to the table. If anything, they’re like empty weights in your
mouth that need to get removed in order to save the rest of your teeth.
And what’s worse is that wisdom tooth extraction doesn’t mark the end of this painful journey
either. In fact, your diet suffers even more after, which is why we often get asked, “When can I
eat normally after wisdom tooth extraction?” But don’t worry, if you have the same concern, just
make sure to read this blog and find out.
Why Can’t You Eat Solid Food After Tooth Extraction?
The entire reason dentists limit your diet is because of the wound that is left behind in place of
the tooth. That is to say, when your wisdom tooth is extracted, there isn’t anything that fills in the
gap in your gums, which is why you have to be very careful of what you eat after the removal.
Over time a blood clot does start to form in its place, sealing the socket underneath, but even
that can get dislodged if you’re not careful enough. For instance, if you eat anything solid such
as potato chips or bread, the food remains will likely settle inside the socket and push away the
blood clot, leading to a dry socket. Not to mention, chewing can become very painful since your
jaw will likely be sore for a few days after the extraction surgery.
When Can You Eat Normally After Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Typically you have to wait for 24 to 48 hours after wisdom tooth extraction to have something to
eat. That, too, must be easy to chew or require minimal chewing. Up until that point, you are
only allowed to consume soft or liquid foods such as smoothies, lukewarm broths, fresh juices,
etc.
However, if you’re craving some crunchy food, maybe a burger, or anything solid, you’ll have to
wait it out for about ten days. This gives your mouth enough time to heal from the extraction as
the blood clot is also covered by granulation tissue, ensuring the healing process is underway.
Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that you have to be very diligent with your diet. The
smallest misstep can throw your oral health off balance, creating more problems instead of
solving them. Nevertheless, you can resume your normal diet two weeks post-extraction once
the extraction site is fully healed and covered.
The Final Takeaway
All in all, the best time to eat normally after a wisdom tooth extraction is by the 10 to 14th day
mark. For more information on tooth extractions and aftercare, contact Signature Smiles at
either of the following locations:
❖ Irving Location: 3654 N Belt Line Rd, Irving, TX 75062, United States
Contact Number: (214) 307-4715
❖ Plano Location: 5072 W Plano Pkwy Suite 270, Plano, TX 75093, United States
Contact Number: (214) 307-4755
❖ DeSoto Location: 726 N Hampton Rd, DeSoto, TX 75115, United States
Contact Number: (469) 643-4155