Having your wisdom teeth removed isn’t all that bad, especially if you’re eating delicious and nutritious foods.

Wisdom teeth are known as the third molars. Most people will have four of them which are located separately in the four corners of the mouth.

When wisdom teeth become impacted — erupt at odd angles or partly emerge — they can start to cause issues including overcrowding or become infected as it is harder to clean in between teeth.

This is when your dentist will recommend having your wisdom teeth removed.

Once you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed, it’s important to make sure your body is getting the right nutrients it needs to recover. A nutritious diet helps reduce the swelling, improve recovery time, and provides nourishment that helps the healing process.

Thankfully, there are plenty of delicious and nutritious foods you can eat that does not involve slurping it through a straw. In fact, dental professionals will recommend not using a straw as this may reopen the wound resulting in bleeding.

Here are 8 nutrient packed foods you should eat after having your wisdom teeth removed.

1. Scrambled Eggs

Scrambled eggs are one of the easiest and most nutritious foods to consume after having your wisdom teeth removed. They are a high source of protein and are packed full of essential vitamins and minerals which help the healing process and improve recovery speed. The best part?

Scrambled eggs are absolutely delicious! Just add a smidge of butter, a dash of milk and a sliver of cheese for a great taste.

2. Blended Soup

Blended soup is the most convenient way to get in all the essential vitamins and minerals needed to recover from vegetables.

Vegetables are rich in nutrients, and when blended into a soup, becomes a nutrient packed meal that also keeps you hydrated, which is especially important after any surgery.

Make sure to blend vegetables until there are no more chunky bits as this may cause irritation. All soups should be consumed lukewarm or cold as hot soup can also irritate the wound.

3. Broth

Everyone knows the ‘healing properties’ of mum’s homemade chicken broth.

Just like soup, broth is an excellent source of nourishment, providing all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to recover.

If you’re having trouble drinking water, broths are also great tasting way to stay hydrated.

Again, it’s best to consume broth either lukewarm or cold to prevent any irritation.

4. Smoothies

Smoothies are easy to consume, highly versatile and are great if you’re in a hurry. If you’re struggling to eat your ‘5 fruit 2 vege’, why not blend up a nutritious smoothie?

Packed full of vitamins and minerals, smoothies can be made to suit your taste and needs. Consider adding a scoop of protein powder or some greek yoghurt to increase your protein intake. Protein can significantly improve recovery time.

5. Avocado

What’s there not to love about avocados? A unique fruit that’s low in carbs, packed full of healthy fats and is an excellent addition to a big brekky. Avocados are rich in vitamin K, vitamin C and potassium. It’s smooth and creamy texture makes it easy to consume when you’re recovering after having your wisdom teeth removed.

The easiest way to consume avocado is to either mash it up or simply blend it up into a smoothie with other fruits.

6. Greek Yoghurt

If you’re after a healthier alternative to ice cream, greek yoghurt is your guilt-free go-to option. Not only is greek yoghurt high in protein, which helps the recovery process, it’s cold, smooth and creamy texture can be quite soothing and helps relieve discomfort.

Rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium and zinc, greek yoghurt is easily consumed by itself or added in a smoothie as a source of protein.

7. Mashed Potato

Who doesn’t love a good mash? Mashed potatoes are the perfect comfort food after having your wisdom teeth removed. Rich in calories and nutrients, mashed potatoes allow you to consume lots of nutrients and energised carbs in just a few bites, which is great if you’re struggling to eat anything.

As mentioned above, remember to consume mashed potatoes when they are lukewarm or cold, as hot foods may irritate the wound.

8. Ice Cream

The one food that is obviously delicious but does not hold much nutrition is ice cream. Most people would recommend eating ice cream while you’re recovering after having your wisdom, however it’s not the most nutritional choice.

While it’s smooth and creamy texture, coupled with a cold mouth numbing temperature is great for easing any pain and discomfort, being high in sugar makes it quite unhealthy.

Consider adding mashed bananas or greek yoghurt to improve your protein intake, or better yet — add a scoop to a smoothie.

Foods to avoid

There are a number of foods to avoid during the healing process which may irritate the wounds in your mouth and slow the recovery process. We also recommend avoiding straws altogether, as the suction may disrupt the wound and cause bleeding.

• Spicy food
• Crunchy, hard and crumbly foods
• Grains and seeds
• Chewy foods
• Alcohol