[Closed] surviving on smoothies and mashed potatoes: my post-tooth-pulling adventure

Did the oatmeal texture really not bother you at all? I was super cautious when my son had his wisdom teeth out, and oatmeal seemed like it might still have tiny bits that could sneak into the sockets. We stuck strictly to smoothies and super smooth soups for the first few days. Maybe I was overly anxious, but even mashed bananas felt risky at first... Did you blend yours completely smooth or just mash it up? Curious if I was being overly cautious here.

I totally get why you'd be cautious - dry sockets are no joke, and it's always better to err on the side of caution. But honestly, oatmeal never gave me any trouble when I had my wisdom teeth out. I didn't blend it completely smooth, just cooked it a bit longer than usual so it was extra soft and creamy. The key for me was making sure it wasn't too thick or sticky, so nothing got stuck in the sockets. I did avoid anything with seeds or tiny hard bits, though - like berries or nuts.

Funny enough, mashed bananas felt riskier to me because they seemed stickier and harder to rinse out afterward. Everyone's mouth heals differently, so maybe your caution wasn't overly anxious, just tailored to your son's comfort level. Still, oatmeal was a lifesaver for me when smoothies got boring...which happened pretty quickly, haha.

Interesting you mention bananas - I actually found them easier than oatmeal, maybe because I mashed them into a really thin puree. But now you've got me wondering about other soft foods. Has anyone tried scrambled eggs early on? They're soft enough, but I'm concerned they might leave tiny bits behind that could cause issues...or am I just overthinking this whole thing?

Scrambled eggs worked fine for me, actually...just had to make sure they were really soft and fluffy. But I get your worry about little bits getting stuck - ever thought about something like cottage cheese instead? It's soft but might be easier to rinse out gently afterward.

Scrambled eggs were my go-to as well, but I totally get the worry about bits getting stuck. Cottage cheese sounds like a decent alternative, though honestly, the texture always weirded me out a bit...maybe that's just me? I ended up relying a lot on yogurt - it's smooth, easy to eat, and pretty affordable if you're watching your budget. Plus, you can mix in some honey or mashed banana for extra flavor without worrying about chunks. Hang in there, though; it really does get easier after the first few days. Before you know it, you'll be back to eating regular stuff again.

Yogurt was a lifesaver for me too, but honestly, after day three I was so sick of sweet stuff I almost cried, lol. Ended up making savory soups and blending them smooth - sounds weird but trust me, blended chicken noodle soup is surprisingly decent... desperate times!

"blended chicken noodle soup is surprisingly decent... desperate times!"

Haha, blended chicken noodle soup sounds questionable, but I might give it a shot. Did you strain out the noodles first, or just blend everything together? Texture-wise, was it gritty or smooth enough to handle comfortably?

Blended chicken noodle soup actually isn't too bad - I tried it after my wisdom teeth came out. Didn't strain the noodles, just tossed it all in the blender. The texture was a little weird at first, kinda grainy from the noodles, but manageable if you blend it long enough. Honestly though, lukewarm soups were easier on my mouth than hot ones... heat sensitivity was no joke those first few days. Good luck!

Blended chicken noodle soup sounds like a solid idea, actually. Wish I'd thought of that when I had mine out. I mostly survived on mashed sweet potatoes and lukewarm oatmeal - hot stuff was definitely a no-go for me too. One thing that helped a lot was blending up canned peaches or pears with some yogurt. It was sweet enough to feel like dessert but still gentle on the mouth. Also, if you're getting tired of smoothies, scrambled eggs cooked super soft and cooled down were surprisingly easy to manage after a couple days. Just make sure they're not too hot or dry... learned that the hard way, haha. Hang in there - it gets better pretty quick!

Blended chicken noodle soup...wish I'd thought of that! I mostly stuck to applesauce and pudding cups, but scrambled eggs were a lifesaver for me too. Took me a couple tries to get the texture right - first batch was way too dry. You're definitely on the right track though, it really does get easier after the first few days. Hang in there, you'll be back to regular meals before you know it.

"scrambled eggs were a lifesaver for me too. Took me a couple tries to get the texture right - first batch was way too dry."

Haha, I feel your pain on those scrambled eggs. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I thought I'd be clever and whip up some scrambled eggs myself. Big mistake. My first attempt was like chewing on rubbery packing peanuts...not exactly soothing for sore gums. After that disaster, I switched to oatmeal - nice and mushy, but then I got paranoid about those tiny oat bits getting stuck in the extraction sites. Yep, anxiety kicked in big-time.

Eventually settled into mashed sweet potatoes and smoothies (banana-peanut butter was my go-to). But blended chicken noodle soup? Gotta admit, I'm intrigued but also slightly skeptical. Does it taste as good as it sounds or is it more of a desperate-times-call-for-desperate-measures kind of thing? Knowing me, I'd probably blend it up and then chicken out (pun intended) at the last second.

Anyway, you're right about things getting easier after the first few days. By day four or five, I was cautiously nibbling on soft pasta and feeling like I'd conquered Everest. Just don't rush back into crunchy stuff too soon - I made that mistake with chips and regretted it instantly. Patience isn't exactly my strong suit, but trust me, it's worth taking your time.

Hang in there!

Haha, blended chicken noodle soup sounds questionable to me too...but honestly, don't knock it till you've tried it. I was skeptical at first, but with enough seasoning and a bit of cream, it's surprisingly decent. Better than another day of mashed potatoes, at least.

"Haha, blended chicken noodle soup sounds questionable to me too...but honestly, don't knock it till you've tried it."

I mean, props to you for creativity, but blended noodles just feel...wrong somehow? When I had my wisdom teeth out, creamy tomato basil soup was my lifesaver - smooth, comforting, and zero noodle weirdness.

"I mean, props to you for creativity, but blended noodles just feel...wrong somehow?"

Haha, yeah, blended noodles definitely cross into questionable territory for me too. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I was so paranoid about getting food stuck in the sockets that I practically lived on mashed sweet potatoes and yogurt for a week straight. Tomato basil soup sounds great, but honestly, even that made me nervous because of the acidity - I was convinced it'd sting or something (probably overthinking it, but still...). Did anyone else worry about acidic foods post-extraction, or was that just my anxiety kicking in?

"Tomato basil soup sounds great, but honestly, even that made me nervous because of the acidity - I was convinced it'd sting or something (probably overthinking it, but still...)"

Haha, I totally get you on the acidity thing. After my extraction, I tried orange juice thinking it'd be a safe bet - huge mistake. It didn't exactly sting badly, but it definitely felt weird and uncomfortable enough that I steered clear afterward. Ended up sticking to banana smoothies and lukewarm mashed potatoes for days. Blended noodles though...yeah, I don't think I'm brave enough to go there either.

I feel you on the orange juice thing... citrus is sneaky like that. Honestly, tomato soup probably wouldn't sting much, but I totally understand not wanting to risk it. Better safe than sorry, right? Hang in there - it gets easier after a few days.

I get your caution about tomato soup - it's not just the acidity, but also the temperature that can be tricky. Even mildly warm soups can sometimes irritate a fresh extraction site, especially in the first couple of days. I remember when I had my wisdom teeth removed, I thought lukewarm tomato soup would be safe, but it ended up causing a bit of discomfort. It wasn't unbearable, but definitely noticeable enough to make me switch back to cooler foods for another day or two.

If you're looking for alternatives beyond smoothies and mashed potatoes (which can admittedly get monotonous), you might consider something like chilled avocado soup or even blended lentil soup served at room temperature. Both are nutritious, budget-friendly options that won't sting or irritate sensitive gums. Another thing that helped me was blending oatmeal with banana and almond milk - it's filling, gentle on the extraction site, and pretty affordable if you're watching your budget.

Also, keep an eye on the nutritional balance of your meals during recovery. Smoothies and mashed potatoes are great comfort foods, but adding some protein powder or Greek yogurt into your smoothies can help you feel fuller longer and support healing. It doesn't have to be expensive either; store-brand Greek yogurt is usually reasonably priced and packs a decent protein punch.

Hang in there - you're right about it getting easier after a few days. By day four or five, you'll likely find yourself able to handle more variety without discomfort. Until then, patience and careful food choices really do pay off in terms of comfort and healing speed.

"Even mildly warm soups can sometimes irritate a fresh extraction site, especially in the first couple of days."

Interesting point, but I'm wondering if temperature sensitivity varies significantly from person to person? When I had my extraction, lukewarm broth actually felt soothing rather than irritating. Maybe it's more about the soup's consistency or ingredients rather than just warmth alone? Curious if anyone else found certain warm foods unexpectedly comforting instead of problematic...

Haha, funny you mention that - I remember after my wisdom teeth got yanked, I was all set to live off ice cream and smoothies, but weirdly enough, warm oatmeal ended up being my savior. Something about the warmth and mushiness just felt comforting rather than painful. Maybe it's less about heat alone and more about texture or even personal pain tolerance? Wonder if anyone else had a surprise comfort food during recovery...

I totally get that oatmeal thing... I thought I'd be all about ice cream too, but cold stuff actually made me super sensitive and anxious. Weirdly, lukewarm scrambled eggs were my go-to - soft enough to swallow without chewing and somehow calming. Guess everyone's comfort food ends up being pretty personal, huh?