Why is a Soft Diet Necessary After Having Dental Surgery?

Whenever your dentist performs a surgical procedure, do their best to ensure that the surgical site remains undisturbed. In this way, the healing time is reduced, but there are minimal chances of post-surgical complications. In addition, if we eat hard or sticky foods, they may dislodge the blood clot from the surgical site, which is essential for healing. That is why the American Dental Association recommends a soft diet for a few days after dental surgical procedures like tooth extractions or implant surgery.

Soft Foods to Eat After Oral Surgery

The American Dental Association recommends taking a nutrient-rich, soft diet abundant in essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, and calcium - besides containing vitamins such as vitamin A, C, and D - that promote healing and ensure optimal oral and physical health.

Some foods that you can try after surgery include:

• Scrambled eggs
• Soup containing vegetables of cream of soup
• Smoothies and milkshakes
• Frozen yogurt
• Boiled or cooked vegetables like carrots, green beans, spinach, and squash
• RIpe fruits like peaches and nectarines cut into small pieces
• Mashed potatoes
• Macaroni and cheese
• Soft bread
• Mashed bananas
• Hummus
• Cereals
• Pasta and noodles
• Baked apples
• Avocado
• Soft-cooked, shredded chicken or meat
• Pancakes

The idea is to avoid small-grained foods that may get stuck within the surgical site and interfere with healing. However, make sure that your diet is nutritious enough to keep you fit and healthy.

At Dental Innovations Mesa, we believe in restoring even the most damaged teeth using advanced restorative procedures. That is why we perform the surgical treatment as a last resort. However, there are still certain cases that require surgical treatment. We strive to ensure minimal post-operative complications with the best possible functional and esthetic outcome in these cases. Dr. Barlow also advises his patients to confirm optimal oral hygiene and take a soft diet to obtain the best surgical result.

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