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Woman sitting on a couch, enjoying a bowl of soft food, suitable for recovery after oral surgery.
01.17.2025

Soft foods to eat after oral surgery

Find the best soft foods for recovery after oral surgery with tips from Aspen Dental to speed up healing.

Woman sitting on a couch, enjoying a bowl of soft food, suitable for recovery after oral surgery.

After preparing for and undergoing oral surgery, it may be tempting to celebrate a successful procedure and treat yourself to a big meal. This is fine, but some foods can hamper recovery and cause complications. Following your dentist’s dietary instructions and eating soft or liquid foods per their directions is key to facilitating a smooth recovery after oral surgery. 

This article explores the best types of foods to eat after oral surgery and a few to avoid. If you believe you need oral surgery or need a follow-up visit after a surgical procedure, schedule an appointment

Dentist smiling while consulting with patients about suitable foods to eat after oral surgery, emphasizing personalized care and recovery guidance.

Why are soft foods necessary after oral surgery?

Switching your diet to soft foods during oral surgery recovery is crucial for supporting a smooth recovery.  Hard or chewy foods can damage the area where you got oral surgery, which may delay your healing and increase the risk of complications. For example, eating hard foods after getting dental implants could put excessive force on
your implants and not allow them to fuse to bone properly.


Another example is tooth extraction. Eating hard foods can dislodge the blood clot that protects the area, leading to a painful condition called dry socket. Sticking to soft foods makes it easier to eat without putting too much pressure on the healing spot, helping to keep it safe and comfortable as you recover. Furthermore, softer foods minimize your risk of accidentally biting directly down on healing areas and causing damage or pain.


Recommended soft foods to have after oral surgery

Restricting your diet to soft foods doesn’t preclude you from having a delicious, varied, and healthy diet. Plenty of dishes use only soft foods that you can cut with a plastic fork. Here are some ideas: 

  • Pasta: Pasta offers a healthy, delicious, and filling meal. Avoid acidic sauces. Cook the pasta longer so that it softens as much as possible. 

  • Smoothies: Smoothies let you get lots of fruits and veggies without chewing. Avoid straws after any oral surgery to prevent dry socket. 

  • Eggs: Eggs offer a wide range of nutrients, including lots of protein needed to facilitate recovery. Pan-cooked methods, like scrambling, offer the softest version of eggs. 

  • Mashed potatoes: You can flavor this filling food with butter, herbs, broth, and gravy. 

  • Soup: A warm soup can keep you hydrated and deliver essential nutrients with little to no chewing. 

  • Stew: Stew offers more solid foods than soup, such as veggies. However, slow cooking can soften these foods up and make them easy to eat. 

  • Fish: Fish offers plenty of protein, but can be much softer and easier to eat than steak or pork. 

Close-up of a bowl of soft pasta being served, a recommended food option for recovery after oral surgery.

Soft foods to have for healing purposes 

Eating enough calories gives your body the energy it needs to help the surgical site recover. However, eating a high-protein diet can also accelerate recovery since it gives your body the building blocks to repair tissue. Some soft yet high-protein options include: 

  • Fish (salmon, tilapia, and tuna)

  • Cottage cheese

  • Milk 

  • Yogurt 
     

See what other foods are good for healing post-oral surgery here.

Dental professional consulting with an older female patient about soft foods to eat after oral surgery, emphasizing recovery care and personalized guidance.

What foods should be avoided after oral surgery? 

Although you can eat a wide range of foods safely during oral surgery, some foods must be avoided for the time being. Steer clear of the following types of foods until your dentist says it’s ok to eat them again: 

  • Crunchy, hard foods: Nuts, seeds, chips, and raw cruciferous veggies can put excess pressure on the surgical area, potentially causing complications. 

  • Chewy foods: Chewy foods, like tough meat, candy, and gum can require too much chewing for a surgical site to handle. This could cause irritation or damage. 

  • Foods at extreme temperatures: Hot or cold foods can cause irritation, pain, or swelling. They could damage sutures as well. 

  • Spicy foods: Spicy foods, like jalapenos, hot sauce, and peppers, may cause irritation due to the acids and other compounds they contain. 

  • Sticky foods: Gum, sugary foods, peanut butter, and starches may get stuck to the site or potentially undo sutures. 

Graphic listing foods to avoid after oral surgery, including crunchy, chewy, very hot/cold, spicy, and sticky foods, to promote proper recovery.

Soft food after oral surgery FAQs 


What can I cook for someone who had oral surgery?

Focus on soft, healthy meals that deliver plenty of protein and a range of other nutrients. Liquid dishes, such as soups and stews, are excellent options since they are liquids, and the foods in them tend to be soft from cooking. Smoothies, yogurts, and other semi-liquid foods can also help, especially when they contain fruits, veggies, and proteins. Mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, soft pasta (by cooking it longer) with milder sauces, and fish are some softer, easier-to-eat options. 


How long do you have to eat soft foods after dental surgery?

This depends on your procedure and your situation. Most non-implant surgeries generally require three to five days of soft, mushy foods and liquids. At your post-op appointment, your dentist will advise you when you can go back to a normal diet. Speak with your dentist to clarify how long you should eat soft foods during dental surgery recovery. 


From mashed potatoes to soup, there are many soft foods you can have after oral surgery. If you’ve gotten oral surgery recently and have more questions on what foods to eat and avoid, your Aspen Dental care team can help. Schedule an appointment with us today to get the answers you need.


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