Comfort Foods After Wisdom Tooth Removal: Recipes for a Smooth Recovery

Wisdom tooth extraction is a time of celebration for those dealing with the aches, pains, and headaches the teeth can cause. However, expect a few days when your mouth is swollen and sore, and eating can be challenging, especially for those without an arsenal of soft, nutrient-rich foods.

Surgery takes a lot from your body. It’s normal to feel tired and run down in the days following a wisdom tooth extraction, but eating nutrient-rich foods can give your body the boost it needs to heal properly and speed the recovery process.

Comfort Foods After Wisdom Tooth Removal: Recipes for a Smooth Recovery

Finding comfort foods after wisdom tooth extraction can be challenging since options are limited, considering that your mouth is swollen and sore. Rather than go hungry for days waiting for your mouth to heal or consume foods that may harm your extraction, pick your favorites from this list of recipes. I asked my family dentist for a list of the best nutrient-rich foods and have included them in my go-to recipes below. Each recipe is easy to prepare and loaded with nutrients the body needs to sufficiently heal. Plus, the recipes taste great. You’ll want them on your menu long after your wisdom tooth has healed!

To effectively heal after surgery (wisdom tooth extraction) the body needs nutrients including:

• Protein: Repairs tissue
• Vitamin A: Promotes tissue health
• Vitamin C: Boosts the immune system

Wisdom Tooth Extraction Recipes

Banana and Strawberry Smoothie

Treat yourself to this delicious, nutritious Strawberry Banana Smoothie for your wisdom tooth extraction comfort food.

Ingredients

• 2 cups strawberries hulled
• 1 banana
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 teaspoon SPLENDA ZERO™ Liquid Sweetener to taste

Instructions 

• Blend all ingredients until thick and creamy!

Easy Chicken Soup

Another Chicken Soup tasty recipe that you will make even after you've recovered from your wisdom tooth extraction surgery!

Ingredients

• 4-5 medium to large carrots
• 2 large chicken breasts cooked
• 1 small head of organic broccoli
• 1 medium to small onion
• 3-6 garlic cloves
• 4 cups chicken stock we try to use homemade when we have it on hand, but store bought absolutely works as well.
• 1 package instant rice the one shown is our favorite
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

• Start by washing your vegetables, peel the carrots, chop the onion as large or small as you like.
• Mince the garlic or leave it whole, we tend to leave it whole.
• In a medium to large pot, heat the chicken stock to a boil.
• I save the tops of the broccoli to finely chop and toss into the soup right before it comes off the heat.
• The rest of the broccoli I chop in thin slices just like the carrots and toss in to cook all together with the onion and garlic in the chicken stock.
• Cook the carrots and broccoli just as you normally would.  You can turn off the heat just before they hit the tenderness that you prefer for the vegetables.
• Add the already cooked chicken to the soup, you can chop it or break it up with your hands into smaller pieces.
• Stir in the instant or precooked rice and tips of the broccoli, cover and let sit for about 5 minutes.
• Serve and enjoy!

Fluffy Scrambled Eggs

A delicious morning classic is sure to put a smile on your face. Enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ C. milk
• 4 Tbsp. butter

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, whisk eggs. Stir in milk and combine until frothy. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Heat butter in a non-stick skillet over low heat.
3. When butter melts,  pour in the egg mixture. Let eggs sit until they set around eggs.
4. Stir gently using a spatula. Start toward the edges and work toward the center to maintain fluffiness.
5. Remove eggs from the pan and serve.

Egg & Avocado Salad

A quick, easy, and delicious meal for lunch or dinner, this salad is packed with protein and nutrients.

Ingredients

• 4 boiled eggs
• 2 ripe avocado, mashed
• 1 Tbsp. Mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

1. Peel and mash avocados, if they are not already.
2. Boil eggs in water.
3. When eggs are soft, chop them into quarters.
4. Mix the eggs and avocado, slowly adding mayonnaise.
5. Top with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Store covered in the refrigerator for one hour.
7. Serve.

Quinoa Stir-Fry

Quinoa is a superfood that takes your health to new heights. It tastes delicious in this spin on an Asian favorite.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 tablespoon garlic minced
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 15.25 oz black beans 15.25 oz, can drained and rinsed
• 15.25 oz Mexican corn 15.25 oz, can (corn seasoned with red and green peppers)
• 14.5 diced tomatoes 14.5 oz, can
• 1 package taco seasoning
• fresh chopped cilantro for serving

Instructions 

• Add oil and garlic to a skillet and heat on medium heat just until garlic begins to brown.
• Stir in quinoa, broth, black beans, corn and tomatoes and mix well.
• Add taco seasoning and heat over medium high heat until mixture begins to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cover.
• Stir occasionally and heat for 25-30 minutes or until quinoa is translucent and soft.
• Serve topped with chopped fresh cilantro.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

The aromatic smell of Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal in the morning starts the day correctly.

Ingredients

• 1 C. Oats
• 1 Apple, peeled, cored, and diced
• 2 C. Milk
• 1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
• ½ tsp. Ground cinnamon
• Salt, pinch
• 2 C. Water

Preparation

1. Fill a saucepan with water. Add diced apples. Cook for 6-8 minutes, or until the apples are tender.
2. Add oats, milk, cinnamon, and salt to the apple saucepan. Stir well.
3. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. If oatmeal is too thick, add a drop or two of milk.
5. Serve.

Vegan Mashed Potatoes

Potatoes are satisfying any time, especially when you need comfort food to soothe a sore mouth. This mashed potato version will surely make your tastebuds happy during your recovery.

Ingredients

• 4 golden potatoes About 4 medium/large
• 2 sweet potatoes About 2 medium/large
• ½ cup avocado oil
• ⅓ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions 

Start by washing and peeling the potatoes then boil the potatoes until they are fork tender. This should take about 10 minutes. You want them to be at the spot where they’ll just start to fall apart when you try to pick them up out of the pot with the fork. Strain and let sit for a minute or two to let the extra water in them steam off. 

While this is happening heat the ½ ish cup of avocado oil in a nonstick pan. So I heat the avocado oil in a pan and then carefully add in about two cups worth of the cooked sweet potatoes, you are essentially frying them… so you do want the oil to bubble up and sizzle all around them, turn them a few times until they are golden brown and have started to caramelize. 

I then transfer all of the left over oil in the pan, the golden potatoes and the rest of the boiled potatoes the stand mixer and whip them until you have the consistency your family loves, we like ours just a little bit lumpy. If you prefer your potatoes a little thinner, you can add a dash of unsweetened original almond milk. I added a drizzle more of avocado oil and paprika to the top of our potatoes.

Comfort Foods for Wisdom Tooth Extraction

It may feel like forever, but within a couple of weeks, your mouth should be healed enough to resume normal eating habits. Until then, we hope the recipes above provide you with tasty nutrients!