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!

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.

I use, love, and highly recommend a Vitamix 750.

Shopping Tip: 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:
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.  If you don’t feel like cooking, grab some pre-made applesauce and eat up!

Homemade Applesauce – from Everyday Easy Eats

This Unsweetened Applesauce recipe is naturally flavored and contains no added sugars. Made with fresh apples, water, lemon juice and cinnamon!

A simple, homemade applesauce recipe that is perfect for snacking and using in baking. Naturally vegan, paleo and Whole30-compliant.

Make It

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.

And if you don’t feel like cooking, grab some ready-to-eat pudding.

Avocado Banana Chocolate Pudding – from Imagelicious

Avocado Chocolate Pudding is intensely chocolate with a hint of banana and maple syrup. It’s smooth and luscious and utterly indulgent, yet it’s healthy and delicious.

No-one will ever guess that it has avocados and no butter or chocolate. It’s vegan, raw, paleo, and gluten-free but, shhh, don’t tell anyone!

Make It

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.

Kefir Ice Cream

This Kefir Ice Cream tutorial will walk you through how to make this customizable, healthy treat using plain milk kefir as your ice cream base. No ice cream maker? No problem!

Make It

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

This strawberry cheesecake ice cream is made with cream cheese and real strawberries, and is an egg-free, extra-creamy summer treat. Inspired by Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream!

Make It

Chocolate Mint Ice Cream

This mint chocolate ice cream is inspired by Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream, and is an egg-free, extra-creamy summer treat infused with fresh mint.

Make It

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!

Try out this glowing green detox smoothie from Rhubarbarians, and this peanut butter, banana, cocoa, + coffee smoothie from Girl Heart Food!

Arugula Smoothie

This easy arugula smoothie uses healthy bitter greens, tart pineapple, and fatty, rich avocado for a filling, delicious vegan drink.

Make It

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.

How to Make Yogurt, Greek Yogurt, and Labneh

Do you love yogurt? Did you know that fresh yogurt with simple, wholesome ingredients is incredibly easy to make at home? This tutorial will walk you through how to make yogurt, Greek yogurt, and Labneh.

Make It

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 especially like 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.

Tomato Soup from Canned Tomatoes

This tomato soup from canned tomatoes is a quick and easy soup for cold, winter days.  Pair it with a grilled cheese sandwich for a meal!

Make It

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.

The Creamiest Mashed Potatoes – from Striped Spatula

These Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes are the creamiest potatoes you’ll ever taste. Rich and indulgent, they are perfect for Thanksgiving or any holiday dinner. Make ahead and reheat over simmering water for easy entertaining.

Make It

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 Oats with Winter Fruit, but skip the toppings- no nuts or extra fruit this time.

Slow Cooker Oatmeal with Winter Fruit

This vegan-friendly Slow Cooker Oatmeal with Winter Fruit uses heart-healthy steel-cut oats, cranberries, and oranges for a healthy and hearty breakfast. 

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a crowd.

Make It

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 (my favorite is Cholula), a salsa that isn’t chunky, and some sour cream. Then, sigh with happiness as you discover that your belly is actually full.

Instant Pot Refried Beans

These Instant Pot refried beans transform dry pinto beans into flavor-packed refried beans, and are seasoned with jalapeños, onions, and spices. (Pre-soak AND no-soak options!)

Make It

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!

Cooking Tip: Check out this tutorial on how to get the creamiest scrambled eggs!

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