Food Suggestion List

After the Numbness Wears Off Numbness of the lips and tongue may persist through the first evening. Once the numbness begins to wear off you should let your body be your guide to your diet. The first ~ 3 days it is going to be much more comfortable to eat small bites of soft foods. However, very few foods are dangerous at this time, some may just be uncomfortable or painful to eat if they require significant chewing and should be avoided for comfort. The only foods that need to be specifically avoided are anything with small seeds or kernels such as popcorn which can cause a problem if they become lodged in the extraction sockets. Eating is important for your body to recover. Do your best to eat small meals multiple times per day, up to every 2-3 hours. This will help you get your energy back and make the pain medicine easier on your stomach. Some examples of soft foods that may be more comfortable during this time include:

Corrective Jaw Surgery

Week 1: Strictly Pureed/Liquid Diet Make sure to stay hydrated and drink at least 2 liters of fluids per day. Break it up so that you are having 4-5 “meals” or snacks throughout the day. It is difficult to drink large quantities at once. Focus on trying to add protein sources as this helps the healing process. Week 2-6: No Chew Diet At this stage it is safe to eat anything that you do not have to chew. Foods should be able to be smushed against the top of your mouth with your tongue or cut up small enough that you can just swallow them. Think of the fork and knife as your teeth. Do not chew! Do not place food between your teeth and bite down.