I just got my wisdom teeth pulled today. This is how I maintained my calorie intake while being unable to chew.
Whether you are an athlete in-season or in a training, getting your wisdom teeth pulled is an obstacle you can overcome if you want to maintain your caloric intake throughout the recovery process.
My train of thought when picking foods to eat: Can I swallow/chew this food without using my back teeth?
Smoothies
Can't chew?...no problem, all foods with the exception of probably strawberries are a go for your smoothies. These are easy to ingest and can be as calorie dense as you want them to be
2. Oils, Butter, and Honey are your best friend
regardless of how deep into your recovery you are, these three things are easily ingestible and pack a punch calorically
3. Don't be afraid of meat, just prepare it wisely
The teeth in the back of our mouths help us chew meat, these teeth cannot be used after your operation. Chop the meat finely into pieces you could swallow outright if needed.
4. Stew
Use any kind of broth you like...the nature of this type of meal will soften both the meat and carb of your choice. This was essential for me during the first few days of recovery.
5. Eggs
Eggs are a great way to source your protein and fats when you cannot chew, I have found that the more butter you use the softer the eggs can be...which requires less chewing.
The Bottom Line
Remember, the goal is to protect the sockets of your wisdom teeth. The variety of food you can eat is larger than you think, but be mindful of how you are ingesting it. I did not eat nuts are anything crunchy, but things like meats, oats, and rice I was able to ingest just a few days after surgery. As long as you can keep the food out of the sockets....you should be fine to ingest it, the doctor will tell you to avoid certain foods....when we think about why, it's because things like nuts and crunchy food is near impossible to keep out of the back corners of your mouth. If you can keep the food out of the sockets....you will be fine...
P.S Avoid acidic foods
