When you’ve had a dental procedure what and how you eat can be impactful. Since vitamins and minerals are vital to healing, you’ll want to be sure you’re getting plenty of these. Therefore, whenever possible you’ll want to choose nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods and lean meats, eggs and beans. In addition, drinking tea can help reduce bleeding due to its tannins. However, make sure to drink it iced or warm, not hot.
Depending on the type of procedure, a liquid or soft food diet may be necessary for a short period of time until your mouth can heal. Of course, if your physician already has you on a restricted diet for other health conditions, you will want to stay within those guidelines also.
In order to bump up nutrition while treating your mouth gently, we’ve put together some suggestions to help you while you heal. Soft, ripe fruits, can be cut into small pieces and eaten or blended into a smoothie, milkshake, or frozen as a sorbet. Consider adding protein powder, tofu, or yogurt into your smoothie. Firmer fruit such as apples can be baked or pureed into applesauce or bananas can be mashed. Fruit that is canned in juice rather sugar can also be a soft choice.
Vegetables such as spinach, carrots or beets can also be added to a smoothie. Vegetables can also be cooked until soft or pureed in soup. Soft cooked grains like rice, quinoa or bulgur can be added or soft cooked couscous or other pasta or noodles. Polenta, oatmeal and cream of wheat are other options and milk or yogurt may be added to the oatmeal or cream of wheat.
Other dairy products such as Greek yogurt, frozen yogurt, soft cheeses such as cottage cheese or goat cheese may work well and can be eaten with saltines or matzoh, soft tortillas or bread. These are also good to go with nut butters, hummus, refried or mashed beans, avocado, scrambled eggs, meatloaf, tuna salad or with soft shredded meat.
More favorite foods include macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, pancakes or waffles, puddings, custards and even baby foods. Feel free to add flavor with seasonings and sauces and with so many choices, it shouldn’t be hard to find something filling, nutritious and delicious.
If you would like more suggestions for a nutritious soft food diet, Dr. Heidi Finkelstein and her caring staff at My Plantation Dentist can help. To schedule your appointment, please contact us today at 954-584-1030.
