Mashed potatoes and applesauce—total classics. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve recommended those after a gum procedure. But here’s the thing that always gets me: people think “soft food diet” means you have to buy all those prepackaged, overpriced puddings and protein shakes. I remember one patient who stocked up on all these little cups of pre-mashed stuff, spent a fortune, then realized she could’ve just made a giant pot of lentil soup for a fraction of the cost.
I get the temptation, though. After my own wisdom teeth removal, I thought “I’ll just grab a bunch of those meal replacement shakes and call it a day.” Ended up hating the taste by day three and caving in to homemade scrambled eggs and a weird amount of overcooked pasta. The grocery bill for the “easy” stuff was no joke, either.
Honestly, I do think there’s something comforting about making your own food during recovery. You know what’s in it, and you can tweak the texture as your mouth starts feeling better. I’ve seen folks get creative—one guy pureed shepherd’s pie, which sounds bizarre but he swore it was the only thing that didn’t make him feel like he was missing out on real meals.
One thing I wish more people talked about is how much the cost of recovery adds up—not just the procedure, but all the “extras.” Prescription rinses, soft toothbrushes, ice packs, those little wax containers for braces... it’s sneaky. I always tell people: don’t be afraid to ask your dentist for budget-friendly suggestions. Sometimes we forget how much the little things matter.
Curious if anyone’s tried freezing portions of homemade stuff ahead of time? I’ve heard it saves money and sanity, especially if you get sick of the same thing every day.
