Soft foods are definitely underrated during recovery… I basically lived on pudding and applesauce.
I gotta be real, I tried the soft food route at first but got so bored after day two. Mashed potatoes saved me, but honestly, I craved something with a little texture. Ended up microwaving scrambled eggs till they were basically fluff. The metallic taste thing freaked me out too, but I noticed it faded faster when I drank more water (maybe just in my head?). Did anyone else feel like chewing on one side forever messed with their jaw?
Chewing on one side for days totally throws things off—I've seen a lot of folks come in complaining about jaw aches or that weird uneven feeling. It usually sorts itself out once you can use both sides again, but yeah, it’s annoying. That metallic taste is pretty common after surgery, and staying hydrated does seem to help some people (maybe not just in your head). I always tell people to get creative with soft foods—cottage cheese, avocado, even overcooked pasta. The texture cravings are real, though... mashed potatoes can only do so much.
Took me a good couple weeks before my bite felt like it was back to normal after root tip surgery. The first few days, I was stuck chewing on the left side, and honestly, my jaw was not happy about it. I remember waking up one morning and feeling like my whole face was lopsided—like I’d been chewing gum for hours only on one side. That uneven pressure is no joke.
I had that weird metallic taste too, which was pretty gross. Water helped a bit, but I also swished with some mild saltwater (dentist’s suggestion) and that seemed to take the edge off. Not sure if it was placebo or what, but it made me feel a little cleaner, at least.
As for food, I got tired of mashed potatoes real fast. Ended up mashing up black beans and mixing them with soft cheese, which was a nice change. Also, scrambled eggs with a little extra milk so they’re super soft—lifesaver. I did crave something crunchy, though, and tried to sneak in a cracker on the “good” side once... bad idea. Felt like I’d bitten into a rock.
The jaw aches faded after about ten days for me, but the “normal” feeling took about three weeks. I think it’s partly mental—you get used to the weirdness and then one day you realize you’re not thinking about your mouth every five minutes. My dentist told me some people bounce back faster, some slower, especially if you’re older or if the surgery was tricky. I’m in my 60s and healing’s definitely not as quick as it used to be.
If you’re still feeling off after a month or so, maybe check in with your dentist just to be safe. But yeah, it’s a slog at first. Hang in there—eventually you’ll be back to apples and carrots (if you’re into that sort of thing).
I get what you mean about the uneven pressure, but honestly, my kid bounced back way quicker than that.
For us, it was more like a week before she was eating regular food again—maybe it’s just easier for younger folks? We stuck to yogurt and smoothies at first, then soft pasta and even tiny bits of chicken by day five. I do think saltwater rinses helped a ton, but she never complained about a metallic taste. Guess everyone’s mouth reacts a bit differently.“The jaw aches faded after about ten days for me, but the ‘normal’ feeling took about three weeks.”
Funny how different it is for everyone. I was jealous of people eating normal food after a week—took me closer to two before I dared anything but mashed potatoes. Maybe age does play a role, or maybe I'm just a wimp about mouth pain...
