"He was all about smoothies beforehand, but afterward, anything thicker than broth made him uncomfortable at first."
Interesting you mention that—I've seen a lot of patients who plan ahead with smoothies and shakes, only to find out they're not quite ready for them right after surgery. Makes me wonder if it's the cold temperature or maybe the thickness that's causing discomfort. Did your son mention if cold drinks felt better or worse compared to room temp stuff? I'm always curious about patient experiences since everyone's recovery seems a bit different. Also, did you try warming up any smoothies or blending soups thinner to ease the transition? Would love to hear what worked best for you guys...
My sister had a similar experience—she stocked up on frozen fruit and yogurt thinking smoothies would be perfect, but after surgery she said the cold made her jaw ache. Lukewarm soups ended up being her go-to for the first few days...guess everyone's different.
Funny you mention the cold smoothies causing jaw aches—I hear that a lot from patients. But honestly, I think smoothies get a bad rap here. It's not always the cold that's the issue; sometimes it's just the thickness or the effort needed to suck through a straw (which, by the way, you should avoid post-surgery anyway—dry socket is no joke). If you let your smoothie sit out for a bit until it's closer to room temp and thin it down with some almond milk or juice, it can actually be pretty soothing. Plus, smoothies are way more nutritious than most soups people grab off the shelf. Don't get me wrong, lukewarm soup is great, but after a couple days of chicken broth, you'll be begging for something with actual flavor. Trust me, I've seen it all—patients coming in looking like they're ready to fight someone for a cheeseburger. So maybe don't write off smoothies completely...just tweak your approach a bit.
Good point about thinning smoothies out a bit. I remember after my wisdom teeth got pulled, I thought I'd be smart and blend up frozen berries with yogurt...ended up way too thick and cold, felt like my jaw was gonna fall off halfway through. Once I switched to room-temp banana smoothies with some oat milk, it was a total game changer. Has anyone tried avocado smoothies? Heard they're creamy and easy on the jaw, but I'm still skeptical about the taste...
"Has anyone tried avocado smoothies? Heard they're creamy and easy on the jaw, but I'm still skeptical about the taste..."
Funny you mention avocado smoothies—I was skeptical too until I gave them a shot after my own oral surgery. They're surprisingly mild and creamy, almost like a milkshake texture without the sugar overload. I blended mine with a bit of honey, banana, and almond milk to balance out the flavor. Definitely easier on the jaw than frozen berries...lesson learned the hard way here too.
