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!
