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

I've actually done the room-temp smoothie thing too, and it's surprisingly tolerable. My daughter had oral surgery last year, and cold stuff was just too harsh on her teeth at first. We ended up blending bananas, avocados, and a bit of almond milk, then letting it sit out for a bit. Sounds weird, I know, but she preferred it over chilled smoothies. Totally agree about the chicken broth though - warm, savory liquids just seem to settle better and keep moods stable.

"We ended up blending bananas, avocados, and a bit of almond milk, then letting it sit out for a bit."

That's actually a pretty clever combo - nutritious and gentle on sensitive teeth. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I relied heavily on warm oatmeal blended with peanut butter. Sounds odd, but it was comforting, filling, and budget-friendly too. Did you (or anyone else here) find any other soft foods that were surprisingly satisfying during recovery? Always looking for ideas in case someone else in the family needs dental work down the line...

"warm oatmeal blended with peanut butter"

I second this - oatmeal was a lifesaver for my kid too. Another surprising hit was mashed sweet potatoes with a bit of cinnamon...soft, nutritious, and just sweet enough to feel comforting without being overly sugary.

Mashed sweet potatoes sound like a great idea, hadn't thought of that one yet. Cinnamon's also supposed to have anti-inflammatory properties, right? Might help a bit with the healing process. I'm curious if anyone's tried smoothies with avocado or banana - seems like they'd be filling and gentle enough on the mouth, but maybe too thick? Just trying to gather some tasty options ahead of time so I don't get bored eating the same thing every day...

"I'm curious if anyone's tried smoothies with avocado or banana - seems like they'd be filling and gentle enough on the mouth, but maybe too thick?"

Smoothies are definitely a good idea, especially since they're nutritious and easy to customize. But you're right to wonder about thickness - sometimes smoothies with avocado or banana can get pretty dense, which might not feel great right after surgery. I've had patients mention that thicker smoothies can create suction in the mouth, and that's something you really want to avoid during the initial healing period.

If you're set on avocado or banana (and honestly, they're both fantastic for nutrition and gentle on your stomach), you might want to thin them out a bit more than usual. Adding extra almond milk, coconut water, or even plain water can help keep the consistency thinner and easier to sip without creating pressure in your mouth. Another trick is to blend in some ice cubes or frozen berries - they add flavor and chill without making it too thick.

Also, just a quick note about cinnamon: you're right that it has anti-inflammatory properties, but be cautious about using spices immediately after oral surgery. Even mild spices can sometimes irritate sensitive tissues or stitches. Maybe hold off on cinnamon for the first couple of days until things settle down a bit.

One thing I've seen work really well is chilled soups - like gazpacho or cucumber soup. They're refreshing, easy to swallow, and you can blend them super smooth. Plus, they're savory, which can be a nice change from all the sweet stuff you'll probably be eating.

It's great you're planning ahead like this; having variety really helps keep your spirits up during recovery. Hope everything goes smoothly for you!

My daughter had oral surgery last year, and banana smoothies were a lifesaver. We just thinned them out with extra almond milk and ice cubes...avoided avocado though, seemed too thick and heavy for her at first. Worked pretty well overall.

Banana smoothies were a go-to for me too after my wisdom teeth came out. I did try avocado actually, but yeah, it felt way too heavy at first...maybe better after a few days once things settled down a bit.

"I did try avocado actually, but yeah, it felt way too heavy at first..."

Haha, totally get what you mean about avocado feeling heavy at first. My daughter went through the same thing after her surgery - thought avocado smoothies would be perfect, but nope...she said it felt like drinking guacamole. 😂 We stuck to lighter fruits like mango and peach for the first few days, then avocado was fine later on. You're doing great though, sounds like you've got a solid plan already!

My daughter went through the same thing after her surgery - thought avocado smoothies would be perfect, but nope...she said it felt like drinking guacamole.

Haha, "drinking guacamole" is EXACTLY how I'd describe it. Avocados are sneaky like that - seem creamy and mild until you're trying to sip them through a straw. 😅

After my dental work, I thought mashed potatoes would be my go-to comfort food, but nope...even that felt like cement in my mouth at first. Ended up living off applesauce cups and cold pudding for a couple days instead. Honestly, lighter fruits or something chilled and smooth made recovery way easier for me.

Sounds like you've got this figured out pretty well though. Just remember to stock up on variety - trust me, after day two of applesauce, you'll be craving literally anything else. 😂

Haha, I completely relate to the mashed potato struggle. I remember thinking they'd be the perfect comfort food after my wisdom teeth extraction, but they ended up feeling way too thick and heavy at first. I actually found that soups were my best friend - especially blended ones like butternut squash or tomato bisque. They're smooth enough to sip easily, and you can adjust the temperature to whatever feels most soothing.

Another thing that really helped me was yogurt smoothies. Unlike avocado smoothies (which I agree can feel oddly thick and guac-like), yogurt-based smoothies with berries or bananas felt lighter and easier to handle. Plus, they're nutritious and filling enough to keep your energy up during recovery.

One tip I'd add is to avoid anything acidic or overly sweet at first. I made the mistake of trying orange juice on day two, thinking it would be refreshing...big mistake. It stung a bit and wasn't pleasant at all. Mild flavors and neutral temperatures seemed to work best for me.

Sounds like you're already pretty prepared, though. Just keep in mind that everyone's recovery is a bit different, so having a variety of options on hand is definitely smart. Hope your surgery goes smoothly and your recovery is quick and comfortable!