After having the surgery, often patients ask how long after wisdom teeth removal can I eat a burger? It is better to wait for a few days. Immediately after tooth extraction, the exposed area needs time to heal itself; hence try choosing liquid or soft semi diet for the next one or two days. Biting on something hard can damage the cloth and cause bleeding and infections. Besides avoid using the side where surgery is done, use the other end to chew your food. Moreover, take care of hygiene as bacteria can spread rapidly, causing infections. Rinse your mouth regularly with warm salt water after every meal.
Next 24 hours
During this time, the condition is crucial, and any lousy bite will damage the clot resulting in profuse bleeding. Try to have liquids or very soft semi-solid food that doesn’t require chewing. You can have smoothies, milkshakes, fresh fruit juices, or other similar items. Do not even think of biting a slice of pizza or burger at this critical stage; otherwise, the consequence can be worse. Prohibit the use of straw at this stage as any sucking action in your mouth will directly affect the clot. Sip beverages in small quantities straight from your mouth.
After a day
Often people don’t prefer eating much after tooth extraction for a few days. After a day, continue with the same meal as discussed above. You can add soup and coffee but not hot ones, first cool them and bring them to room temperatures. Remember sipping nothing that is too hot and can disrupt the clot, besides lower down the sugar level in these liquids as they trigger bacteria’s growth. You can have soft veggies and fruits like mashed potatoes, bananas, avocado, peach, etc. However, don’t forget to rinse your mouth.
After 48 – 72 hours
Now you can start with a bit of solid food but still not a burger. Few choices of foods can be scrambled eggs, dairy items, or other pureed items. Don’t have it hot, but bring it to warm temperatures. At this stage, the area has started healing and will be back to normal with proper care.
After 2 or 3 weeks
Now you can start with your favorite foods like burgers or pizza; however, take care to chew it from the other side of your mouth. Chew and bite slowly so that if any stitches are still not healed properly, they don’t rupture. It is better to take advice from your practitioner before starting a complete solid diet after tooth removal, especially in wisdom teeth.
Further to judge your situation about how long after wisdom teeth removal can I eat a burger, make sure you don’t have any of the following conditions after a few weeks to start eating solid food.
- Bleeding or swollen gums
- Pain and sensitivity
- Pus coming out of open wounds and similar conditions
To contact Vintage Oral Surgery, call us at (281) 800 8852 to schedule your appointment.
It’s the last few days before your procedure and you’re wondering what you can eat afterwards. If you’re thinking “I need to know what to eat after wisdom teeth surgery” this list was made just for you. The first few days you will only be able to have soft foods that you can swallow without chewing. Think soup, yogurt, milkshakes, etc. I’ve found a few excellent options that helped me get through the days after my surgery. So I’m sharing them here with you with the hope that they can help you too. You’ll want to get your groceries a few days before your procedure to make sure you’re prepared. Once you are home after your surgery, you should not be driving to get food for 3-4 days.
Here is a list of foods you can eat after wisdom teeth surgery organized by timeline. As you continue on down the list, the foods mentioned in the previous table can also be eaten in the times following as well. So if you’re on day 5 (3 days – 1 week after) you can eat mac & cheese and also still eat creamy tomato soup (day of – 3 days after). Remember that you cannot use a straw!
Day of Surgery – 3 Days After
Creamy Tomato Soup | Walmart Market Street Tomato Bisque Soup |
Butternut Squash Soup | Any |
Applesauce | Any |
Protein Milk/Milkshake (without a straw) | Core Power Protein Shake - DO NOT use a straw! |
Yogurt (without fruit or toppings) | Yoplait, Chobani, etc |
Grits | Any |
Mashed Banana | Mix in cinnamon for added flavor |
Ice Cream (no mix-ins) | French vanilla, chocolate, anything without chewy or crunchy pieces mixed in |
Chicken/Beef Broth | Progresso Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth |
Queso Dip (without chips) | Ole Plain Cheese Dip, Queso Melt Original |
Pillsbury Shape Sugar Cookies (cooked soft NOT crunchy) | Pillsbury Ready To Bake Pumpkin Shape Sugar Cookie Dough |
This soup was a lifesaver for me. I went through a few containers of it the first few days. It has a runny consistency and is easy to eat and swallow while you’re still sore from surgery. Oh, and it’s delicious too! Like I mentioned in my surgery experience post, I found it easier to drop the food from a spoon onto my tongue the first day until I was able to eat off of a spoon. I also really loved the Fairlife Core Power Protein drinks, but they’re a bit pricey at $3 a piece.
▶ IMPORTANT: Do NOT drink through a straw or spit. These can break the blood clots that formed, increasing the time it takes to heal and putting the wounds at risk of improper healing.3 Days – 1 Week After
Meatloaf (crumbled into small pieces) | Hormel Homestyle Meatlof with Tomato Sauce |
Mashed potatoes | Hormel Homestyle Mashed Potatoes |
Broccoli (soft and mashed) | Any |
Instant Oatmeal | Quaker Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal |
Chili Without Beans | Hormel Chili No Beans (SO YUMMY!) |
Scrambled Eggs | Scrambled Eggs with Cheese - the only way to eat them! |
Donuts (in small bites) | Dunkin' Blueberry Iced Donut, Tastycakes Powdered Sugar Mini Donuts |
Mac & Cheese (cooked soft) | Annie's Macaroni & Cheese, Velveeta Shells & Cheese Mini or Original |
Cheesecake (with no mix ins) | Any creamy cheesecake without nuts or chocolate chips/chunks |
After a few days I found it easier to eat more foods. It is still important to eat soft foods and avoid hard or crunchy items like chips. However you are able to eat more solid foods like meatloaf and potatoes. You can slowly start to experiment with eating different foods. Just be mindful and eat your food slowly and carefully to avoid irritating the surgery areas. And take small bites.
1 – 2 Weeks After
Burger (cut into small pieces + no bun) | Jenni-O Seasoned Turkey Burgers, Bubba Burger |
French Fries (cooked soft, not crunchy) | McDonald's, Zaxby's, Chick-fil-a, Arby's |
Chick-fil-a Chicken Nuggets | 8-piece Nugget at Chick-fil-a |
Pancake | Aunt Jemima Buttermilk Complete mix + add vanilla extract |
Peanut Butter | JIF Creamy Peanut Butter |
Muffins or Cake | Chocolate, vanilla, blueberry (no chocolate chips or nuts) |
Pasta - Spaghetti, Penne, Macaroni (cooked soft) | Cheesecake Factory Pasta With Alfredo & Chicken. SEE TIP BELOW |
Cheese Pizza | Papa John's, Johnny's Pizza, Pizza Hut |
Soft Chocolates | Reece's Cups, Milky Way, Ghiarardelli Intense Raspberry Radiance Bar |
Enchiladas, Rice & Beans | On The Border Chicken Tinga Enchiladas with Rice and Refried Beans |
Grilled Cheese Sandwich | Be careful with anything added in such as bacon, tomatoes, etc |
Bread + Butter | Pepperidge Farms Swirl Cinnamon Bread |
TIP: At Cheesecake Factory order the “Chicken and Broccoli” pasta and ask for parmesan alfredo sauce instead of olive oil. 🤤 Absolutely delicious!
Wishing you the best of luck with your procedure! I pray for a quick and easy recovery for you.