To eat or not to eat? This is what most patients who have gone through a dental surgery ask. While there are certain foods that should be avoided, an Alexandria oral surgeon can recommend gastronomic treats that are safe to eat.

Did you know that when you’ve undergone a minor surgery like tooth extraction, you can eat ice cream afterward? One of the perks this gives is reducing the swelling that comes with the removal of a tooth.

How Eating Ice Cream Helps

On the first 24 hours after the operation, swelling is at its peak. By eating something with cold temperature, the blood vessels that transport fluid (causing the affected area to swell) will be constricted. This in turn effectively minimizes the swelling.

However, you must take into account important things when eating such foods. Ice cream, for instance, should be carefully ordered; they must be a soft serve and should come in a cup (not in a cone!) for you to be able to eat them more comfortably. You might also want to avoid other features like sprinkles or chocolate bits.

Most importantly, bear in mind that eating ice cream (and other cold food) is a no-no if you have sensitive teeth.

Ice Cream Alternatives

So, you have sensitive teeth and you’ve just had a minor dental surgery — what’s safe for you to eat. An expert like an Alexandria oral surgeon is most likely to recommend the following:

Yogurt. Tender and light in terms of its consistency, this is a great option if you’ve undergone a dental surgery. You can also blend them with fruits to create a smoothie that’s safe for you to indulge in.

Scrambled egg. Eggs cooked this way isn’t that hard to chew. Plus, they also contain protein — a great energy source alternative to meat (which by the way is something you aren’t allowed to eat yet).

Soup. If the weather is rather gloomy, you can opt for a lukewarm soup instead. Just be careful not to eat soup while it’s still hot.

What Not to Eat

While the above mentioned will help you somehow fill that appetite, take note that there are foods that you still need to avoid, like what we’ve said earlier.

If you want your recovery process to be as smooth as possible, and if you don’t want to go back to your Alexandria oral surgeon to cure any complications brought about by eating wrong meals, here’s a list of some of your food option no-nos:

Spicy and acidic foods. These are foods that strongly irritate our gums. Wait until you’re fully recovered before you can tickle your taste buds again with things spicy and acidic.

Chewy foods. If you don’t want to exhaust your jaw and mouth and avoid something that can get stuck in the surgical site, you need to avoid eating this type of food.

Chips and crackers. Apart from bits of them getting stuck in the affected area, these snacks have also high sugar content, something that can cause irritation to your gums.

Roasted veggies. They may be delicious and nutritious, but roasted veggies are very hard to chew. Want to incorporate veggies to your diet? Purée them and add them to your soup.

The Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery offers a complete line of dental procedures to bring back your perfect smile. Looking for an Alexandria oral surgeon? Contact us today!