If you're planning on having your wisdom teeth extracted or you'll be taking care of someone who is, you should know that eating after wisdom tooth extraction can be tough. If you're not sure what you're doing, you could end up with a significant lack of food and drinks you can consume in a time when you should only be resting. Read these three eating tips to ensure that you're ready when it's time to come home to recover.

Wait

You shouldn't actually eat immediately after your surgery. You may feel hungry due to fasting prior to the surgery, but pay close attention to your surgeon's directions. Wait however long they say to before trying to eat.

Anesthesia can cause nausea, which can trigger vomiting if you try to eat too soon. Vomiting is never pleasant, but it can be dangerous and painful if you have recent incisions on your gums, so make sure to follow the directions.

Avoid Straws

Straws may seem like a good idea when you're recovering from wisdom tooth surgery, but they're actually problematic.

When you purse your lips over a straw, you create a sort of vacuum. This is what allows the liquid to come up out of the straw. Unfortunately, the suction action you create while using a straw works both ways. The fragile clots that are helping to keep your incisions closed may come loose while you use a straw. This can cause bleeding to start all over again.

Ideally, you should wait until your stitches are out and you're fully healed before using a straw. If you want to use one before then, ask your surgeon how long you should wait at the bare minimum.

Stock Up on Protein Shakes

Finally, consider stocking up on protein shakes before going in for your procedure. Protein shakes are easy to drink, filling, and packed with nutrition. This makes them a great option when you're recovering from surgery, since your body will need fat, calories, and protein to repair its damaged tissues.

In addition, protein shakes are easy to prepare. You can make a few in advance the day you go in for surgery so that they're ready for you, too. Just make sure to drink them from a glass or cup, not with a straw!

Getting through wisdom tooth surgery recovery can be a fairly easy process if you're prepared adequately. With these tips, you can ensure that you have food you can eat without hurting yourself. Talk to your oral surgeon if you have further questions about your recovery period.

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