I switched to pea protein after my wisdom teeth came out, and honestly, it was a lifesaver. Dairy always made me feel kinda heavy and sluggish, especially when I was already feeling crummy from the surgery. Pea protein shakes were way easier on my stomach, and I felt like I bounced back quicker. I mean, it didn't taste amazing at first (took a bit of experimenting to find a brand that didn't taste like chalk lol), but once I found one I liked, it was smooth sailing.
Recovery's different for everyone, but making digestion easier definitely helps your body focus on healing. If dairy's giving you trouble, it's worth trying something plant-based...worst case scenario, you end up with a funny story about the time you drank weird green shakes for a week.
Totally agree about dairy being rough after dental surgery. I remember when I had my implants done, I thought milkshakes would be the perfect comfort food—big mistake. Felt bloated and sluggish for days. Ended up switching to almond milk smoothies with frozen bananas and peanut butter, and it was a game changer. Easier on the stomach, plus it tasted way better than the chalky protein powders I'd tried before (seriously, some of those were awful...).
One thing I noticed too was that staying hydrated made a huge difference in recovery time. I underestimated how much water I'd need, especially with all the meds they had me on. Once I started drinking more fluids, my swelling went down faster and I felt less groggy overall.
But yeah, everyone's different. My brother breezed through his extractions eating yogurt and pudding without any issues. Lucky guy, haha.
Interesting you mention almond milk smoothies—sounds tasty but doesn't that get pricey after a while? When I had my wisdom teeth out, I stuck to homemade soups and mashed potatoes because it was easier on my wallet. Curious though, did anyone else find warm foods more soothing than cold ones? Cold smoothies made my gums ache, but lukewarm broth felt surprisingly comforting... guess everyone's mouth reacts differently.
I had the exact opposite experience actually—my daughter had two teeth pulled last month and she absolutely hated anything warm. We tried lukewarm soups at first, thinking they'd be soothing, but nope...she complained endlessly. Ended up sticking to cold yogurt and smoothies (homemade ones though, almond milk does add up fast!). I guess it really depends on the person and maybe age too? Kids seem extra sensitive sometimes, or maybe mine's just picky, haha.
