Proper care after your periodontal surgery will help your mouth to heal quickly. This includes a healthy, soft food diet.
At first, your temporary soft food diet may seem challenging, but with some planning you can ensure that you have all of the nutrients you’ll need for your body to heal quickly.
As soon as you are able (after your local anesthetic has worn off), start drinking nutritious fluids such as real fruit juices, milk, milkshakes, and fruit and vegetable smoothies.
REMEMBER: Do not drink from a straw for at least two weeks. The suction and force created when using a straw will be disruptive to the sutures and the delicate healing tissues.
A general rule of thumb for the first two weeks following periodontal surgery is to avoid any foods that take more than 3 chews to swallow.
Avoid hot food or drink for the first two weeks. The heat of your food can increase the flow of blood to the area and can cause your surgical site to bleed.
Just because your diet is of a soft consistency, it is still important to eat a variety of nutritious foods. Below are some general guidelines according to Health Canada’s Food Guide and some examples of food choices.
Fruit & Vegetables
Consume at least 7 servings of soft fruit and well-cooked vegetables per day:
- apple sauce
- stewed or canned fruit
- peas
- smoothies
- soups
- well cooked or pureed vegetables (potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, turnip, other root vegetables)
Protein
Two servings of tender protein:
- tuna
- salmon
- flakey fish served without a crispy coating
- well-cooked poultry cut into small, bite-sized pieces
- eggs
- baked beans
- lentils
- Greek yogurt
Milk & Dairy
Two servings of milk or dairy products:
- milk
- calcium-fortified soy or almond milk
- ice cream/frozen yogurt
- yogurt
- fruit sorbet
- puddings
- soft cheeses such as cottage cheese
Whole Grains
Chose whole grain foods over processed, simple carbohydrates:
- porridge
- oatmeal
- cream of wheat
- cereals without nuts or dried fruit
- whole-grain pastas or noodles
- soft bread without hard crust
Beverages
Make water your drink of choice. It is important to stay hydrated.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco as much as possible during the healing period.
