Can i eat before wisdom teeth removal

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One of the most common questions our team fields when a client is faced with an impending oral surgery date is “what am I allowed eat or drink before my surgery?” This is an important question, as the food and drink that is ingested prior to a surgery can greatly affect the body’s interaction with administered anesthesia. Your oral surgeon will be able to give you specific guidelines regarding what you can eat and drink, and when.

This information is based on a combination of your general tolerance to anesthesia, as well as the type of sedative that will be used during your surgery. The following are three basic anesthesia types, and the corresponding dietary restrictions to heed when faced with oral surgery.

Local Anesthesia

A local anesthesia, or “local,” as it is commonly called, only affects the immediate area in which it is administered. A shot or topical numbing agent is an example of a local anesthetic. In this case, it is often advised that the patient refrain from eating for at least three hours prior to the oral surgery appointment – and it is beneficial if the meal is light.

Nitrous Oxide

Another popular sedative used during oral surgery is nitrous oxide. Commonly known as “laughing gas” due to its often-humorous side effect, nitrous oxide delivers a potent yet safe dose of euphoria that can make the patient less sure of their surroundings. One of the benefits of nitrous, when it comes to dietary restrictions, is the fact that the patient may eat a light meal up until three or four hours before their oral surgery time. This adds some flexibility to the appointment.

Intravenous IV

This method delivers the heaviest level of sedation for longer or more involved oral surgery procedures. IV sedation often leaves the patient unaware of their surroundings and they typically have little to no memory of the surgery. The anesthetic must be administered on an empty stomach; so stricter dietary guidelines must be followed to ensure safety and effectiveness. The basic rule of thumb is to refrain from eating during the day of the surgery if the procedure is scheduled on or before 2pm. If it will begin after 2pm, a light breakfast consisting of no more than 8 ounces of fluids may be consumed – at least six hours before the procedure. Stay away from sugar and milk if you are going to eat breakfast.

Your oral surgeon will tailor your diet plan to your specific needs, as well as to the level of anesthetic that you will likely encounter. Though it may seem straightforward, it is crucial that you follow the guidance of the oral surgeon’s pre operative instructions and adhere to the diet plan – you’ll enjoy a safer surgery and a more pleasant experience.

After wisdom tooth extraction, drink lots of water, and eat soft foods that you can easily tolerate, such as yogurt and applesauce.

  • Avoid alcohol, hot beverages, and carbonated drinks after surgery, since they may irritate tooth sockets.

  • Hard, crunchy, scalding hot, or spicy foods can cause pain and bleeding and may prolong the healing process.

  • By age 12, most baby teeth have been replaced with adult teeth. But there are still some teeth yet to come: your wisdom teeth. The name comes from the idea that these teeth grow in at a more mature age, usually between ages 17 and 21.

    Many people find it painful when wisdom teeth grow in, and it’s common for them to be impacted. That means they are trapped in your jaw or under your gums. Most people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth.

    If wisdom teeth are impacted; they’re not growing in the right position; or there is evidence of pain, infection, cysts, gum disease, or decay, your dentist may recommend surgery to remove your wisdom teeth. You will likely be referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for the procedure. You’ll receive local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. Usually, removing wisdom teeth doesn’t cause much pain. 

    After surgery, there may be some swelling and mild discomfort, and you’ll have to modify your diet to include foods that are not painful to chew. Pain and trismus (difficulty opening the mouth) occur in about 7% of people after wisdom tooth surgery, which can affect chewing, swallowing and food intake. 

    How long should you not eat before wisdom tooth removal? 

    Your dentist or oral surgeon will provide you with pre-operative instructions. One of the guidelines may be to avoid eating and drinking anything for 8 hours before surgery, but this will depend on the type of anesthesia that they plan to use. 

    If your surgery is in the morning, the dentist or surgeon may advise you to have no food or liquids after midnight. Check with your dentist to know your specific guidelines.

    What foods should you eat after wisdom teeth removal? 

    After wisdom tooth extraction, you will likely be instructed to drink lots of water and eat soft foods that you can easily tolerate. Ensure that you get enough protein, vitamins, and minerals, because these nutrients are helpful for wound healing. 

    If you’re not eating enough or only drinking broth and juice, you won’t get the necessary nutrients for healing. Malnutrition is a problem in wound healing, and falling short on protein and vitamins slows the healing process.

    Soft foods that you can include in your diet after wisdom tooth removal include:

    • Applesauce or other pureed fruits (try baby food)

    • Mashed soft fruit such as bananas or avocado

    • Steamed mashed carrot or cauliflower

    • Steamed mashed pear, peach, or apple

    • Warm (not hot) broth or cream soups

    • Oatmeal, congee, porridge, or cream of wheat

    • Scrambled eggs

    • Smoothies

    • Cottage cheese

    • Milk 

    • Soft cooked pasta or noodles

    • Mashed fish

    • Pudding 

    • Mashed potatoes

    • Mashed cooked lentils, beans, or chickpeas

    • Yogurt 

    • Ice cream or frozen yogurt

    Try to include a source of protein with your meals, such as egg, yogurt, milk, fish, beans, or lentils. Protein helps speed wound healing. 

    How long should you wait before eating? 

    You can eat when you feel like it after surgery, but be careful with your food choice. For the first 24 hours after surgery, eat only soft foods that require no chewing, such as yogurt or applesauce. 

    When can you reintroduce solid foods? 

    Once the pain begins to subside, you can start eating semi-soft foods that require a small bit of chewing, such as bananas, avocado, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs. You will likely eat soft and semi-soft foods for a few days. Most people do feel more comfortable in 3 to 4 days, but let pain be your guide. Eat what feels good, and go back to eating regular food when you feel less pain.   

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    What foods and drinks should you avoid after wisdom teeth removal? 

    It’s important to not drink alcohol, fruit juice, carbonated drinks like soda and seltzer, or caffeinated or hot beverages such as coffee and tea. These can irritate the surgery spots in your mouth and slow down the healing process. 

    Avoid using straws for at least a week after surgery, since the sucking action can dislodge the blood clot from the tooth socket (where the tooth was removed) and cause more bleeding. You’ll also want to refrain from rinsing or spitting for the first 24 hours after surgery, as these can dislodge the blood clots from the empty tooth sockets.

    If you smoke, your provider will probably advise you to refrain from cigarettes for at least 72 hours after surgery. Tobacco products can delay healing and increase the risk of complications. 

    What happens if you eat the wrong foods after wisdom teeth removal?

    Foods that are hard, scalding hot, chewy, crunchy, or spicy might get stuck in the socket or irritate the surgical wound, which can cause pain and bleeding and make the healing process last longer. Stick with soft foods instead. You also want to avoid nuts and seeds until you are healed, since they can get stuck in the sockets. 

    How long does it take to recover from wisdom teeth removal?  

    It can take up to 2 weeks to recover from wisdom tooth extraction, but you won’t have to eat soft foods for that long. Usually, the soft diet just lasts for a few days or until you can comfortably chew again.  

    The bottom line

    Stock your fridge and pantry with enough soft and semi-soft foods to last a few days. Try yogurt, applesauce, potatoes, and your favorite ingredients for smoothies. 

    Wisdom tooth surgery is relatively low risk, but do call your dentist or oral surgeon if you have excessive bleeding, fever, or severe swelling that gets worse after three days. Also, contact your provider if you are unable to chew after a few days. They will advise on the best next steps. 

    GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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    Can I eat 5 hours before wisdom teeth removal?

    If you're going to have anesthesia, your dentist will recommend that you do not eat or drink anything for at least eight hours prior to your surgery. If you need to take medication, only use a small sip of water if necessary. Doing so will help you to avoid any risk of aspiration during surgery.

    Can I eat before a tooth extraction?

    Generally speaking, you should avoid eating anything for 12 hours prior to the surgery. This can help prevent nausea during and after the procedure. If you are having a local anesthetic, you may not need to fast as long so be sure to inquire before the treatment.

    What can you eat before wisdom teeth surgery?

    If your appointment is scheduled after 1:30 pm you may have a light breakfast at least 6 hours prior to the surgery. The breakfast may also include 6 ounces of apple juice, water, or black coffee. Do not add any sugar or milk to the coffee. After the breakfast, do not eat or drink anything.

    What should you not do before wisdom teeth removal?

    You may not have anything to eat or drink (including water) for eight (8) hours prior to the appointment. No smoking at least 12 hours before surgery. Ideally, cut down or stop smoking as soon as possible prior to the day of surgery. The negative effects of tobacco last up to two weeks after smoking cessation.