Wisdom Teeth Removal

During the first 24 hours, stick to cool, soft foods like yogurt, applesauce, smoothies, and lukewarm soups to avoid disturbing the blood clots. As healing progresses, you can gradually introduce semi-soft foods like scrambled eggs, pasta, and mashed potatoes while continuing to avoid anything hard, crunchy, spicy, or that requires excessive chewing. Complete recovery typically takes 1-2 weeks, during which time you should avoid foods with small particles that could become lodged in extraction sites, such as seeds, nuts, and granular foods.

The actual wisdom teeth extraction procedure typically takes between 30-60 minutes, depending on the number of teeth being removed and their positioning. Simple extractions of fully erupted wisdom teeth may take as little as 20 minutes, while impacted teeth requiring surgical removal can take longer. Your total appointment time will be approximately 90 minutes, accounting for preparation, anesthesia administration, the procedure itself, and initial recovery monitoring.

You can eat soft foods about 1-2 hours after wisdom teeth removal once the initial gauze is removed and bleeding has subsided. For the first 24 hours, choose cool, soft foods that require minimal chewing and avoid using straws, which can dislodge blood clots and cause painful dry socket. Most patients can gradually return to their normal diet within 7-10 days as comfort levels improve, though you should continue avoiding very hard or crunchy foods until your dentist confirms complete healing.

After wisdom teeth removal, focus on nutritious soft foods like smoothies, yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, and lukewarm soups that provide essential nutrients without requiring much chewing. As healing progresses (usually after 3-4 days), you can introduce softer solid foods like pasta, flaky fish, well-cooked vegetables, and tender meats cut into small pieces. Throughout your recovery, stay hydrated with plenty of water, but avoid using straws, carbonated beverages, alcoholic drinks, and extremely hot liquids that could irritate extraction sites.

You can brush your teeth the day of surgery, but avoid the extraction sites completely for the first 24 hours to prevent disturbing blood clots. After 24 hours, continue your regular brushing routine while being extremely gentle around the surgical areas, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoiding rigorous rinsing or spitting. Dr. Soltani may recommend a salt water rinse beginning the day after surgery to help keep the area clean, but this should be done very gently to avoid dislodging protective blood clots.