Soft, easy to chew foods are the best thing to eat after oral surgery, especially within the first few days. There are a number of delicious soft foods to choose from.

In some cases, dental braces won’t allow the biting surfaces of the teeth to touch so chewing isn’t possible. Go to this post for foods that do not require chewing.  

It is important to include healthy protein and fiber-rich choices after oral surgery to provide necessary nutrition for optimal healing. To get more fiber from the foods you eat, make smoothies with fruit, and eat soft fruits such as bananas or canned fruit. Brown rice, oatmeal or other whole grains can be eaten as well, as long as they are thoroughly cooked and moistened with milk. Protein can be provided in the form of cut-up eggs, ground meats, fish, and dairy products or protein nutrition drinks. Staying hydrated and continuing with your vitamin/mineral supplement (if you take one) is also important for a quick healing time.

By carefully choosing the foods you eat you can usually make eating easier. Here are some suggestions that may help:

Straw use: If you have had a tooth removed, do not us a straw for at least three days.

o Crunchy, sticky, and sharp foods should be avoided.
o Cold foods like smoothies, puddings, ice cream and sorbet can help with mouth pain, while pureed foods and drinks are easy to swallow, even after painful oral surgery. Be sure to ask your surgeon if you can use a straw or not.
o Try foods cold or at room temperature. Hot and warm foods can irritate a tender mouth and healing gums.
o Cook foods until they are soft and tender.
o Use a blender or food processor to puree your food.
o Cut foods into small pieces.
o Cook or simmer foods in sauces or liquids to keep them moist.
o Mix food with butter, thin gravies, and sauces to make it easier to swallow.
o Add sauces to vegetables.

Here are some specific food ideas:

Add Strained “Baby” Meats Or Canned Fish To Soups, Sauces Or Gravies

Applesauce, Stewed, Mashed Or Pureed Fruits

Avocados, Asparagus, Peas, Carrots, Lima Beans (All Mashed)

Baked Beans

Baked Or Broiled Fish

Blended Vegetables

Bread Softened With Gravy

Broiled Or Stewed Chicken (Finely Chopped)

Buttered Noodles with Parmesan Cheese

Canned Bartlett Pears, Cherries, Mandarin oranges, fruit cocktail, peaches, pears, lychee

Canned Fruit With Cottage Cheese

Canned Tuna Or Chicken

Chicken A La King, Creamed Salmon Or Seafood

Chunky Soups, Stews, Shepherd’s Pie Or Pot Pies

Cold Cereal Soaked In Milk

Cooked Fruits Without Seeds Or Skins Like Apples And Pears

Cooked Puddings Such As Tapioca, Rice, Bread Or Custard

Cottage Cheese

Cream Pies Or Sponge Cake With Custard Sauce

Creamed Corn

Egg dishes such as Scrambled Eggs, Poached Eggs, Quiche, Breakfast Casserole, Egg Salad

Egg Salad, Tuna Salad, Pate, Liverwurst, Guacamole, Hummus Or Cream Cheese Spread On A Slice Of Soft, Crustless, Buttered Bread

Finely Grated/Melted Cheese

Fish Poached Or Cooked In A Sauce

Foods cooked or simmered in liquids (e.g. stews with ground or finely chopped meats, hearty soups)

Gratineed Potatoes

Ground Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken Or Turkey Cooked In Gravy

Hearty Broth Based Soups, Borscht, Congee, Cream Soups Or Chowders (Blended If Necessary), Split Pea, Lentil Or Bean Soup

Hot Cereals Such As Oat Bran, Cream Of Wheat, Corn Meal, Oatmeal, Congee

Hummus

Ice Cream/Sorbets/Gelato

Jell-O

Jell-O Or Instant Pudding Mixes

Macaroni and Cheese, Pasta Dishes With A Cheese, Cream Or Tomato/Cream Sauce

Mashed or cut up bananas

Mashed Potatoes, Cauliflower, Carrots, Turnips, Yams Or Squash

Meatball Sandwich on soft bread with spaghetti sauce

Meatballs

Meatloaf

Meats that have been chopped, ground or blenderized

Melon, Avocado, Bananas

Miso soup with soft tofu

Muffins

Hot Cereal, Mush or Porridge-Type Hot Cereals Like Oatmeal, Grits And Cream-Of-Wheat

Pancakes or French Toast With Butter And Syrup Or Fruit Sauce

Pasta Cooked To a Soft Consistency

Pasta Or Potato Salad

Peanut Butter

Polenta

Pot Stickers, Boiled

Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes without Skin

Protein Powders

Pudding Or Custard

Pureed Berries Put Through A Strainer To Remove Skins And Seeds

Pureed Or Blended Sauces

Pureed Or Blended Soups

Rice or Tapioca Pudding

Savory Cheese and Bread Puddings

Skinless Vegetables That Cook To A Soft Consistency Or Can Be Mashed, Like Carrots, Cauliflower

Soft Boiled Or Poached Eggs

Soft Breads and Muffins

Soft casseroles such as Tamale casserole, Tuna and noodles, Lasagna, etc.

Soft Cooked Vegetables with A Cheese Or Cream Sauce

Soft ripe Blueberries, Guava, Papaya, Mango, Watermelon, Cherries

Soup like bean soup, butternut squash, rice soup, noodle soup, broth soup with ground meat and soft vegetables or potatoes

Sweet Dessert Bread Pudding

Tender Meats And Ground Meats That Have Been Well-Cooked – Braised Meats Or Meats Cooked In A Crock-Pot

Tofu

Vegetables pureed or mashed such as peas and carrots, canned vegetables

Well-Cooked Legumes With Soft Skins Like Baked Beans