When you’re recovering from having a tooth pulled, what you eat can affect how you feel. After an oral medical procedure, it is normal to feel pain and swelling, but many people don’t feel as bad after an extraction. All these can make chewing and eating a bit of a challenge. Certain foods can help you through the recovery phase, while some can agitate your condition. Here are some foods you can eat and should not eat after your teeth extraction.
Having your wisdom teeth removed is a rite of passage for many people. While recovery is usually quick, it does require some dietary changes for a few days. But if you’re a bacon lover, you may be wondering: can I eat bacon after wisdom teeth removal?
The short answer is yes, you can enjoy bacon after getting your wisdom teeth out. However, there are a few caveats to keep in mind. In this article, we’ll discuss
- Why you need to modify your diet after wisdom tooth extraction
- When can you start eating bacon again?
- How to prepare bacon for easier eating
- Other breakfast foods to enjoy besides bacon
- Tips for a smooth wisdom teeth recovery
Why You Need a Soft Food Diet After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom tooth extraction leaves your mouth wounded and sensitive. Chewing crunchy or hard foods can disrupt the surgical site, leading to pain and potential complications. That’s why your dentist recommends sticking to a soft food diet for the first few days.
Soft foods are unlikely to:
- Get stuck in the extraction sites
- Dislodge the blood clot needed for healing
- Put too much pressure on stitches
- Cut or scrape the surgical area
This allows your mouth to recover quickly Most people only need to follow a soft food diet for 3 to 5 days after wisdom tooth removal.
When Can You Eat Bacon Again After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Crispy bacon is off the menu for those soft food days after surgery. But you don’t have to wait too long to enjoy it again.
Here’s a general timeline for adding bacon back to your diet after wisdom tooth extraction:
- Days 1–3: Stick to a liquid and soft food diet. No bacon.
- Days 4–7: Try soft, fully-cooked bacon if you’re feeling up to it.
- Day 8+: You can typically enjoy regular bacon again by the end of the first week.
Always follow your specific post-op instructions from your oral surgeon. But for most people, bacon can be back on the breakfast table within a week.
How to Prepare Bacon for Easier Eating After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Crunchy bacon is a no-go in the first few days after surgery. Buttender, fully-cooked bacon can be enjoyed during your recovery if you prepare it properly.
Here are some tips for making bacon soft and wisdom-tooth-friendly:
- Opt for thick-cut bacon, which tends to be more tender. Regular sliced bacon can be overly chewy and crunchy.
- Cook it low and slow either in the oven or in a skillet on medium-low heat. This renders more of the fat, leaving you with soft, melt-in-your-mouth bacon.
- Chop the bacon into small bits or crumbles for easier chewing and swallowing.
- Avoid any charring or crispiness—undercook it slightly so it’s pliable.
- Soften it further by microwaving 10-20 seconds before eating.
Bacon prepared this way provides the salty, savory flavor you crave without compromising your post-op recovery.
Other Breakfast Foods to Enjoy Besides Bacon After Wisdom Teeth Removal
While you’re waiting to add regular bacon back to your breakfast lineup, there are other tasty morning foods you can eat after wisdom teeth removal:
Eggs: Scrambled, poached, or soft-boiled eggs are a great source of protein. Just take care when chewing.
Oatmeal: Opt for instant or cooked oats with lots of creamy, nutritious add-ins.
Yogurt: Try Greek yogurt or regular yogurt with softened fruit or pureed baby food mixed in.
Smoothies: Blend together yogurt, milk or juice, bananas, and nut butter for a filling breakfast drink.
Cottage cheese: Its soft curds make cottage cheese ideal for your post-op diet. Top it with honey, cinnamon, and soft fruit.
Pancakes: Enjoy fluffy pancakes drenched in syrup for an indulgent breakfast.
French toast: Dip thick slices of bread in eggs and grill until soft for an eggy, comforting dish.
Tips for a Smooth Recovery After Wisdom Teeth Removal
To help your mouth heal quickly after surgery so you can get back to eating bacon sooner, follow these wisdom teeth removal recovery tips:
- Take any antibiotics or pain medications as directed.
- Rinse gently with warm saltwater after meals.
- Avoid spitting, straws, smoking, and touching the surgical sites.
- Eat soft, nutritious foods like mashed potatoes, noodles, soups, and smoothies.
- Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, juice, and other cool liquids.
- Apply ice packs as needed to reduce swelling.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Follow all of your dentist’s and oral surgeon’s post-op instructions carefully.
Before you know it, your mouth will be healed enough to enjoy that satisfying crunch of crispy bacon once again. But in the meantime, stick to a soft diet—including soft bacon—to help your extraction sites recover.
The Bottom Line
Recovering after wisdom tooth removal means no crunchy bacon for a few days. But once the initial healing is underway, you can gradually reintroduce bacon into your diet. Prepare it soft and fully-cooked at first. Within a week, you should be cleared for your regular bacon routine.
While waiting to add bacon back after surgery, fill up on soft eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, and other nutritious breakfast foods. Follow your surgeon’s instructions and take care of your extraction sites. With proper care, you’ll be back to bacon in no time.
Foods You Can Eat After Tooth Extraction
- Fresh smoothies. Smoothies made with probiotic-rich yogurt can help heal your gums and keep your gut healthy. Blend fruits and yogurt together, and add naturally sweet things like cocoa powder or frozen fruit.
- Soups and canned broths. Some soups are good for you after oral surgery, but not all of them are. Some of the things in chicken noodle soup are chunky and need to be chewed. Putting the meat and vegetables in different bowls and cutting them up helps you easily swallow.
- Eggs. After having a tooth pulled, the easiest and tastiest thing to eat is soft-scrambled eggs. Add your favorite cheese to them in a pan and mix them together. Serve with an avocado for a hearty meal.
- Cheese. Cheese is a great source of antibiotics. You can swallow them in small pieces. You can also shred them and put them in any meal while you’re healing. Cottage cheese particularly makes for a great snack.
- Oatmeal. Instant oatmeal is a good option for breakfast. Steel-cut oats are not good for you because they are hard to swallow whole. Start with plain oatmeal and add some soft fruit, like mashed bananas or blueberries.
- Mashed potatoes. You can use instant mashed potatoes from a box or make one from scratch that is soft, creamy, and tasty. Add small amounts of things to your recipe, like bacon or herbs that have been finely diced.
- Frosting, pudding, and sheet cakes. While you’re getting better, you can eat some desserts, like pudding or gelatin. You can also use a spoon to handle a cupcake or frosted cake. To wash it all down, have a glass of cold milk at the end.
What to eat after wisdom teeth removal
FAQ
What meat can you eat after wisdom teeth removal?
Can I eat a burger 1 week after wisdom teeth removal?
When can I eat McDonald’s after wisdom teeth removal?