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

I used to have the same gritty oat issue until I started soaking them first. I'd toss them in a bowl with some almond milk overnight in the fridge, and by morning they blended up super smooth. Dry oats always left me feeling like I was drinking sandpaper, haha. Also, blending a bit longer definitely helps - my old blender needed an extra minute or two to get things silky. Might be worth experimenting a bit before your surgery day rolls around...

"I'd toss them in a bowl with some almond milk overnight in the fridge, and by morning they blended up super smooth."

I've tried the overnight soaking thing too, but honestly, I didn't notice much difference. Maybe my blender is just ancient or something? I ended up switching to instant oats instead - way smoother and less hassle. They're pretty cheap too, especially if you grab the store brand. Might be worth a shot if soaking doesn't quite do the trick for you either...

I've had mixed results with soaking oats overnight too. It might depend on the blender, but also the type of oats you're using can make a difference. Steel-cut oats never got smooth enough for me, no matter how long I soaked them. Instant oats are definitely easier, but if you're looking for more nutrition, rolled oats blended with a ripe banana or avocado can help get that creamy texture. Worth experimenting a bit to find what works best for you...

I've had my share of oat struggles too, especially when I had my wisdom teeth out last year. Steel-cut oats were a no-go - ended up gritty no matter what I tried. Rolled oats blended with banana was honestly a lifesaver. Avocado sounds interesting though, never thought of that combo. Might've made things smoother... Anyway, hang in there; experimenting beforehand definitely helps ease some anxiety about the recovery diet. You've got this!

Totally agree about steel-cut oats - they're tasty normally, but after oral surgery? Nope, way too gritty. I actually found chia pudding super helpful. You can prep it the night before, and it's smooth enough to eat without chewing. Plus, mixing in some coconut milk or yogurt makes it creamy and filling. Avocado sounds like a smart move too, wish I'd thought of that combo earlier... Good luck with your surgery, you'll do great.

Chia pudding's definitely convenient, but personally, I found the texture a bit tricky after my surgery - those tiny seeds sometimes got stuck around the stitches. Blended soups or smoothies worked better for me, smoother and easier to rinse out gently afterward. Just something to consider...

Totally get what you're saying about chia pudding. Those little seeds can be sneaky, especially when you're trying to keep things clean around stitches. Smoothies were my go-to as well - banana, avocado, and a bit of yogurt blended together was a lifesaver. Super creamy and gentle on the healing areas.

Another thing that helped me was making soups ahead of time and freezing them in small portions. Just pop one out, warm it up, and you're good to go. Potato leek or butternut squash soups were my favorites - smooth texture, comforting taste, and easy cleanup afterward.

Also, if you're craving something sweet like chia pudding but without the seed hassle, maybe try a simple chocolate avocado mousse? Sounds weird at first, but trust me, it's surprisingly delicious and super smooth. Good luck with your surgery prep - you've got this!

"Potato leek or butternut squash soups were my favorites - smooth texture, comforting taste, and easy cleanup afterward."

Totally seconding the soup suggestion. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I lived off blended veggie soups for days. One thing I'd add is to watch the temperature carefully - it's easy to underestimate how sensitive your mouth can get post-surgery. Lukewarm is your friend here. Sounds like you've got a solid plan already, though...you'll be healed up before you know it.

"One thing I'd add is to watch the temperature carefully - it's easy to underestimate how sensitive your mouth can get post-surgery."

Definitely agree with this. I remember after my oral surgery, I thought I'd be fine with some warm tomato soup...big mistake. Even slightly warm felt like lava at first. Ended up sticking mostly to room-temp smoothies and yogurt for the first couple days.

Another thing that helped me was having a bunch of soft foods prepped ahead of time. Mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs (cooled down, obviously), and even oatmeal were lifesavers. I also found that cold stuff like applesauce or pudding cups straight from the fridge felt soothing on my gums.

One tip from experience: avoid anything with tiny seeds or grains at first. I made the mistake of trying a strawberry smoothie without straining it, and those little seeds were a nightmare to rinse out gently afterward.

Sounds like you're pretty prepared already though, so you'll probably breeze through it. Just take it slow and don't rush back into solid foods too quickly...trust me on that one.

I get the logic behind sticking strictly to room-temp or cold foods, but honestly, I think it depends a lot on individual sensitivity and the type of surgery. After my wisdom teeth removal, my dentist actually recommended lukewarm (not hot!) broth because it can help soothe and relax the muscles around your jaw. The key was making sure it was barely warm - just slightly above room temperature - and sipping slowly. It genuinely helped ease some of my discomfort and felt comforting compared to constantly eating cold stuff.

Also, regarding the tiny seeds thing - I totally see your point, but again, it might depend on how your healing goes. I had smoothies with strawberries and blueberries blended really well, and I personally didn't have any issues. But yeah, if you're worried about rinsing or irritation, straining is probably safer.

One thing I'd gently push back on though is the scrambled eggs suggestion. Even cooled down, eggs can sometimes stick or leave residue that's tricky to rinse out gently from sensitive areas. Personally, I found soft scrambled eggs a bit uncomfortable at first - ended up preferring something smoother like mashed sweet potatoes or avocado puree instead.

Overall though, seems like you have a solid plan in place already. Just wanted to share another perspective since everyone's healing experience can vary quite a bit...

Totally agree about the lukewarm broth thing - I did the same after my surgery and it was honestly a lifesaver. Cold stuff got old real fast, and the warmth was comforting without causing irritation. About eggs though, I actually found them pretty easy to handle as long as they were super soft and I took tiny bites. But yeah, avocado puree was amazing too, especially with a bit of salt and lemon...felt like a treat after days of bland food, haha.

Yeah, avocado puree was definitely a highlight for me too - felt like gourmet dining after days of broth and smoothies, haha. Eggs were hit or miss in my case though...scrambled super soft worked okay, but boiled eggs - even mashed - felt kinda heavy and uncomfortable. One thing I found surprisingly helpful was oatmeal thinned out with almond milk; warm, filling, and gentle enough not to irritate anything. Might be worth trying if you get bored of the usual stuff. Good luck with your surgery!

Avocado puree is definitely a winner - it's funny how something so simple can feel like a luxury after surgery. I had a similar experience with eggs too; scrambled worked fine, but boiled eggs just sat heavy and uncomfortable. Interesting you mentioned oatmeal though...I tried it myself but found the texture a bit tricky at first. Eventually, I discovered that blending it up slightly after cooking made it smoother and easier to handle. Almond milk was great, but I also experimented with coconut milk for variety - it gave it a nice subtle flavor and kept things interesting.

One thing I'd suggest is trying some pureed soups too, especially if you're craving savory flavors. Butternut squash or sweet potato soup thinned out with broth was gentle and satisfying for me. Anyway, hang in there - oral surgery recovery isn't fun, but it passes quicker than you think. Good luck!

Avocado puree was a lifesaver for me too, but honestly, after a few days, I just couldn't handle anything sweet or creamy anymore. That's when I discovered pureed lentil soup...it was savory, comforting, and gentle enough to sip without discomfort. Also, totally agree on oatmeal's texture - took me ages to get it right. Blending definitely helps, but adding a spoonful of Greek yogurt made the consistency smoother and gave it some extra protein. Hope your recovery goes smoothly!

Pureed lentil soup sounds like a great find - I wish I'd thought of that when I had my surgery. Honestly, I got so tired of smoothies and yogurt after a few days, it was rough. And yeah, oatmeal texture is tricky...I remember trying to blend mine and ending up with something closer to glue than breakfast, haha. You're doing great figuring out what works for you though; hang in there, it'll get easier soon.

"Honestly, I got so tired of smoothies and yogurt after a few days, it was rough."

Haha, totally understandable - smoothies and yogurt fatigue is a real thing. Have you tried adding savory options like mashed sweet potatoes or creamy polenta? I had a patient recently who swore by blending avocado into soups for extra nutrition and creaminess. Might sound odd, but it worked wonders for them. You're already figuring out some creative solutions, so that's awesome. Just curious, have you experimented with scrambled eggs yet? They're soft enough to handle post-surgery, and you can add cheese or herbs to mix things up a bit. Keep exploring different textures and flavors; you're doing great and it'll definitely get easier from here.

Scrambled eggs were my lifesaver after surgery... I added a bit of cream cheese to make them extra soft and creamy. Honestly, savory foods really helped break up the monotony of all that sweetness. Hang in there, it'll get better soon.

Scrambled eggs were a big help for me too, but I never thought about cream cheese... did it melt smoothly or stay kinda chunky? I mostly stuck to mashed potatoes and soups, but you're right, savory stuff really helps balance things out. Sweet foods got old fast - like, how much pudding can one person eat before going nuts, right? Anyway, sounds like you're doing great with your recovery. The first few days are definitely the toughest, but it gets easier pretty quickly. Did you find any other savory foods that worked well besides eggs? Always curious to hear what others tried. Hang in there!

"Sweet foods got old fast - like, how much pudding can one person eat before going nuts, right?"

Haha, exactly. I remember thinking pudding would be my savior after getting my wisdom teeth out... but by day two, the sight of it made me queasy. Scrambled eggs were definitely a lifesaver for me too, but I kept worrying about small bits getting stuck or irritating the stitches - probably just dental paranoia kicking in.

Cream cheese sounds interesting; I'd guess it melts pretty smoothly if you mix it in while the eggs are still hot enough. Personally though, I stuck mostly to softer savory foods like creamy polenta or cheesy grits. They went down easy and felt more substantial than soups alone. One thing that surprised me was refried beans (thinned out a bit). They don't look glamorous, but they were filling and gentle on my mouth.

I do have to caution about mashed potatoes though: they're great comfort food, but be careful with temperature. Hot foods can sneak up on you when your mouth is numb or sensitive from surgery - I learned that the hard way and ended up with a sore spot for days. Also, watch out for sneaky herbs or spices in store-bought soups; tiny bits of pepper or rosemary felt like gravel during recovery.

Recovery definitely gets easier after those first few days, but don't rush into crunchy stuff too soon - even if you're feeling brave. I've seen plenty of patients regret biting into chips prematurely because they felt "fine." Better safe than sorry... trust me on this one.

Anyway, sounds like you're already handling things really well. Good luck with the rest of your recovery!

I totally get the pudding burnout, haha. After my surgery, I thought smoothies would be my go-to, but even those got old fast. Weirdly enough, lukewarm mac and cheese ended up being my comfort food - soft enough to eat without chewing much, but felt like real food. Did anyone else find an unexpected favorite during recovery? Curious what other soft-food hacks people discovered...