Soft Foods: Food to Eat After Dental Work

This list of Soft Foods to Eat After Dental Work will help you stay full, and give you ideas of soft food to eat after oral surgery, wisdom teeth removal, or other dental work.  This is food for when you want to eat, but you can’t chew!

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Soft Foods: The Post-Dental Dilemma

Today– soft food to eat after dental work.  I’ve always been one of those weird people who loved going to the dentist.  I loved how clean my teeth felt after a cleaning, and how I never seemed to get a cavity.

Awhile back, however, I had to switch dentists, AND get a few fillings, AND have oral surgery.  Twice.  Ouch.

After both surgeries I remember thinking, “I’m so glad I can’t feel my face!”  And also, “How much did I just pay??”  Quickly followed by, “Did he really say I can’t chew anything for a week???”

The first time around, I found myself wandering around the food aisles at Target with the husband, looking sadly at all the food I couldn’t chew.  The second time, I was more prepared!

However, I can’t be the only one with this problem, right?  The big question is– what do you eat after getting wisdom teeth removal, oral surgery, a root canal, a gum graft, or after other super fun dental work?  We can’t be expected to live on APPLESAUCE for weeks, right?!

Should I Blend My Food In A Blender?

Maybe.  This is all going to depend on how sore your mouth is and if you’re allowed to chew.  (I did have to blend my food after oral surgery.)

Shopping Tip: I use (and adore) a  Vitamix 7500 Professional Series Blender.  If you’re looking for a new blender, read this Blender Review first.

What to Eat After Oral Surgery or Wisdom Teeth Removal

Today’s post is a list of the types of soft foods that worked for me.  However, there’s all kinds of dental work out there!  Some of these foods might not work for you, depending on if you have stitches, where your stitches are, etc.

If you aren’t allowed to chew after dental work, this list of soft foods should help!  The list will go from snacks, to light meals, to protein-filled eats that will actually leave you full.

Quick Tip: Some of the recipes linked in this post include toppings like berries, fresh herbs, or croutons.  You’ll likely want to skip the toppings for now.

Transition to Real Food Slowly: When you start reintroducing foods into your diet that need to be chewed, go slowly! Your stomach won’t thank you for skipping straight to heavy and dense food. Start with soft food like pasta, and go with smaller portions. Make your way slowly back to your normal diet.

Top 10 Soft Foods to Eat After Dental Work

1. Applesauce

I know- I just knocked applesauce and said I couldn’t bear to eat it for days.  Okay sure.  But the truth is, as a snack, it’s quite tasty, it won’t hurt your mouth, and it could even work as a breakfast!

If you’re feeling up to making your own- try this traditional How to Make Applesauce tutorial or my Applesauce with Honeycrisp Apples.  If you don’t feel like cooking, grab some pre-made applesauce and eat up!

2. Pudding

You already know you love pudding.  It’s creamy.  It’s sweet.  It’s soothing! 

If you’re trying to stay healthy, try this Cinnamon Rawnola Chia Pudding for a healthier vegan treat that works for both breakfast and dessert.  This vanilla or chocolate pudding recipe is also delicious and easy.

3. Ice Cream / Fro-Yo / sorbet / sherbet / Granita

This one is another no brainer- but don’t overlook it, because cold and creamy sweets will feel amazing on your sore mouth!

Quick Tip: Skip the popsicles if you can’t bite down, or can’t open your mouth wide enough after your dental work.

Try making ice cream, kefir ice cream, vegan nice cream, or even granita!   Don’t feel like cooking?  Grab your favorite store-bought kind– but make sure to avoid chocolate chips, shredded coconut, or anything that could get stuck in your stitches.

4. Smoothies

Are you craving vegetables?  Do you miss salads?  If you haven’t tried a green smoothie yet, this might be the time to do it.  My favorite combination is spinach, plain Greek yogurt, frozen fruit, and a little coconut water or orange juice.

You can also make them more protein-packed by throwing in a few nuts or some nut butter!

5. Greek Yogurt + Honey

This is a great option, because it’s a soft food full of protein, is creamy, light, and delicious, but still takes practically zero effort.  You can even buy single serving containers of Greek yogurt that have honey in a separate section of the bowl.

Feeling ambitious?  (Or you’re stuck at home and bored?)  Try making your own yogurt.

6. Puréed Soup

Soup!  Yes, that’s right, a “real” food!  A soft food that you can eat because you’re hungry– and it FILLS YOU UP!

Make Tomato Soup, or try blending up a soup you normally eat chunky (like Potato Soup!)  You can also find  puréed soup pre-made in boxes.  (I like Trader Joe’s boxed soups- especially the Tomato + Roasted Red Pepper soup.)

Usually I add in some crunchy textures when I make puréed soup, but if you have stitches in your mouth– you probably shouldn’t do that. Blend it all up!

You should also skip any toppings.  Skip the bread and crackers you normally use to scrape the bowl.  It’ll be okay- you can eat all that again after your mouth heals.

7. Mashed Potatoes

This carb-filled dish is a soft food that won’t make you feel like you’re on a diet!  Stir in some cream cheese, sour cream, or feta cheese for added flavor and creaminess.

Quick Tip: You could also make mashed sweet potatoes, but I’ve found that the stringy texture of sweet potatoes was too much for the stitched up palette of my mouth on the first few days after surgery.  If you want mashed sweet potatoes, blend them up as well as you can (maybe even using an actual blender instead of a hand mixer), until your mouth heals a little.

8. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfasts, because it’s healthy and filling.  Depending on how sensitive your mouth is, you might pour your cooked oats in a blender before eating them.

Try making Slow Cooker Pumpkin Oats or Slow Cooker Oats with Winter Fruit, but skip the toppings- no nuts or extra berries this time.

9. Refried Beans

Beans!  Now we’re talking.  Some of you may be laying home in bed for a week after oral surgery, but others have to go to work!  Go to school!  Operate a motor vehicle!

And how, I ask, are you supposed to do any of those things without protein?

Let’s be honest– refried beans are BEST served with rice or tortilla chips or taco shells.  But, that’s just not an option right now.

Serve your beans with some hot sauce, a salsa that isn’t chunky, and some sour cream.  Then, sigh with happiness as you discover that your belly is actually full.

10. Soft-Scrambled Eggs

As your mouth begins to heal, you might want to start including some soft food that requires minimal chewing.  Eggs are great– soft-scrambled eggs are EVEN BETTER!  Check out this tutorial on how to get the creamiest scrambled eggs!

More Soft Foods: Recipe Ideas

Here are a few more soft food ideas to keep you fed and happy while your mouth heals!

Did I forget anything?  What foods do you eat post-dental work?  Let me know in the comments!

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