[Closed] Getting ready for oral surgery - my game plan

Haha, totally relate to the cottage cheese thing. I remember after my wisdom teeth came out, I suddenly craved scrambled eggs like crazy - something I'd usually just shrug at. Cottage cheese is definitely a winner nutritionally, but if you're getting bored, yogurt smoothies or mashed avocado can also be gentle and soothing. Just keep an eye on acidity levels with fruit though...sometimes citrusy stuff can sting a bit in the early days. Good luck healing!

I remember after my surgery, I thought I'd planned everything perfectly - stocked up on yogurts, cottage cheese, smoothies...the works. But by day three, I was so sick of sweet stuff, I literally blended chicken noodle soup into this weird puree. Sounds kinda gross, but honestly, it was amazing just to have something savory. Agree on the citrus fruit though; learned that lesson real quick when I tried pineapple juice...ouch. Might wanna have some savory options ready just in case your taste buds revolt on you like mine did. Good luck!

Totally feel you on the savory cravings. My daughter had oral surgery last year, and after day two she was begging for mashed potatoes with gravy - said it was the best thing she'd ever tasted, lol. Hang in there, it'll get better soon!

Mashed potatoes and gravy were my lifesaver too after braces tightening. Funny how something so simple can taste like gourmet food when you're craving savory stuff. Did your daughter find any other soft foods she liked after surgery? Always looking for more ideas to switch things up... smoothies and soups get old fast.

Totally agree about mashed potatoes - they were my go-to too after getting braces tightened. Another thing that worked wonders for me was scrambled eggs with cheese, cooked super soft and fluffy. Easy to eat, savory enough to break up the monotony, and you can switch it up by adding different cheeses or herbs. Also, refried beans with melted cheese on top were surprisingly satisfying and gentle on my teeth... definitely worth a try if you're craving something hearty but still need softness.

"Another thing that worked wonders for me was scrambled eggs with cheese, cooked super soft and fluffy."

Scrambled eggs were a lifesaver for me too, especially right after my veneers. I was pretty anxious about chewing anything at all, so soft eggs felt safe enough. Never thought about refried beans though... sounds like a good idea. Honestly, just knowing you've got some tasty options lined up helps ease the nerves a bit. Good luck with your surgery - you've got this!

Scrambled eggs are definitely gentle, but honestly, cheese didn't work out so great for me. After my wisdom teeth removal, dairy made me feel kinda queasy - maybe it was just nerves or the meds, who knows. I ended up sticking mostly to mashed potatoes and applesauce. Boring, I know, but at least it settled my stomach. Everyone's different though...hopefully cheese treats you better than it did me. Good luck with everything!

Did you try soups at all? I found that lukewarm soups - nothing too hot - were a lifesaver after my surgery. Dairy didn't bug me much, but I know some people who felt off with it too. Maybe broth-based soups like chicken noodle (minus the noodles) or veggie broth could help if cheese doesn't pan out. Also, smoothies were good, but I had to sip slowly to avoid brain freeze...did you have issues with cold stuff?

"Did you try soups at all? I found that lukewarm soups - nothing too hot - were a lifesaver after my surgery."

I get the soup suggestion, but honestly, lukewarm soups never really did it for me. After my surgery, I tried broth-based soups and found them pretty unsatisfying. They just left me hungry again in no time. Plus, sipping slowly on smoothies to avoid brain freeze was a bit of a hassle - I mean, smoothies are great, but when you're already uncomfortable from surgery, the last thing you want is to worry about getting a headache from drinking too fast.

For me, room-temperature mashed potatoes or oatmeal were way more filling and easier on my wallet. You can make a big batch ahead of time, portion it out, and reheat gently as needed. If dairy bugs you, almond milk or coconut milk works fine in oatmeal. And mashed potatoes can be creamy enough without dairy if you add some veggie broth or olive oil instead.

Also, cold stuff didn't bother me much personally, but I know some people who found it uncomfortable. I think it's really individual - just gotta experiment a bit and see what works best for your own comfort level.

I totally get what you're saying about lukewarm soups being kinda meh. I'm prepping for my first oral surgery next week (yikes), and honestly, the food part is stressing me out more than the actual procedure. I've been reading everyone's suggestions like crazy, and mashed potatoes sound like a solid idea - definitely adding that to my list.

Smoothies seem great in theory, but I know myself...I'll probably end up gulping them down too fast and regretting it immediately. Brain freeze on top of post-surgery pain? No thanks. 😂

One thing I've been thinking about is scrambled eggs. I figure if they're soft enough and cooled down a bit, they might be easy to eat without much chewing. Has anyone tried that? Or is it still too much effort right after surgery?

Also, oatmeal sounds comforting, but I'm worried about little bits getting stuck in stitches or something (maybe I'm just overthinking it?). Did you blend yours smoother or just cook it extra soft?

Honestly, at this point, I'm probably over-preparing - but better safe than sorry, right? I stocked up on applesauce cups and pudding too, just in case everything else fails. Fingers crossed I won't be living off pudding cups for a week straight...

Scrambled eggs worked pretty well for me after my surgery, actually. Just make sure they're soft and fluffy - not dry or rubbery - and let them cool down a bit first. Oatmeal was fine too, but yeah, I cooked mine extra soft and added a bit more milk than usual to keep it creamy. Honestly, you're probably overthinking it a little (I did too!), but better safe than sorry...and pudding cups aren't the worst fate in the world, right?

Scrambled eggs and oatmeal are solid options, but honestly, mashed potatoes were my lifesaver. Just make sure they're super smooth, no lumps, and not too hot. I mixed in a bit of cheese or sour cream to keep things interesting. And yeah, pudding cups get old fast...but hey, it's temporary. You'll probably bounce back quicker than you think. Good luck!

"mashed potatoes were my lifesaver"

Totally agree, mashed potatoes are cheap and filling. Did anyone try smoothies or shakes? Wondering if they're worth the hassle or too pricey to prep regularly...

Smoothies can be great, but honestly, prepping them regularly got a bit tedious for me. Plus, fresh fruit adds up quickly. I found soups easier - just blend whatever's leftover in the fridge and call it gourmet...worked surprisingly well!

Soups definitely sound like a practical alternative, especially when you're recovering and energy levels might be low. Did you find certain ingredients easier on your mouth after surgery, or did you just go with whatever was handy? I'm trying to plan ahead myself...

Soups are definitely convenient, but honestly, I found smoothies and shakes way easier to handle after my surgery. Soups were okay at first, but sometimes the heat - even lukewarm - felt uncomfortable on sensitive areas. Smoothies were a lifesaver because you can toss in frozen fruits, yogurt, protein powder...whatever you like, really. Plus, the coldness actually helped numb things a bit and felt soothing.

One thing I'd suggest is avoiding anything acidic or citrusy at first - learned that the hard way when I threw in pineapple chunks without thinking. Ouch. Bananas, berries, spinach (you don't even taste it), and almond milk worked great for me. Also, blending oats or peanut butter can help keep you fuller longer.

Everyone's different though; some people swear by soups. Just thought I'd share another option since you're planning ahead. Good luck with your surgery!

Smoothies are great, but man, protein powder can get pricey fast. I stuck mostly to cheap staples like bananas, peanut butter, and oats - basically lived off PB-banana shakes for a week. Soups weren't too bad either if you let them cool down completely...but yeah, learned real quick that tomato soup was a no-go (acid burn city). Good luck, stock up on ice packs!

I feel you on the tomato soup thing...made that mistake myself after wisdom teeth removal. Thought it'd be soothing, but nope - instant regret. I ended up relying heavily on mashed potatoes and lukewarm broth (sounds gross, but honestly wasn't too bad). You're smart to stock up on ice packs; rotating them regularly really helped keep swelling down for me. Hang in there, you'll get through it quicker than you think.

Totally relate to the mashed potatoes thing - those were my lifesaver too. Weirdly enough, room-temp smoothies worked wonders for me...cold was way too sensitive at first. You're definitely on the right track with ice packs though, makes a huge difference. You've got this!

"You're definitely on the right track with ice packs though, makes a huge difference."

Ice packs are great initially, but honestly, after the first day or two, I found switching to warm compresses helped me heal faster. Might be worth trying if ice starts feeling uncomfortable...worked wonders for me.