How soon can I eat solid food after wisdom tooth removal?

[BishopBrennansArseHole]

Having it out tomorrow. Utterly terrified. Anyone know how long before you can eat?

I had a tooth removed about a month ago, I was petrified too but it was nowhere near as bad as I thought. I could eat that evening but stuck to softer food. I still haven't eaten crisps or anything very crunchy yet!

Ive had two. One was superstraight forward at the dentist. I felt it was less hassle than having a filling as it was quicker and less fussy. I can't remember if I ate that night though...

I drove home afterwards but then felt queezy as I think the shock hit me, so I'd recommend relaxing up.

Mine second in hospital was fairly quick. They give you after care instructions.
I was fairly wiped out after mine so didn't really eat that day, but could eat non crispy chips etc the next day, and then normally after that (not using that side of my mouth)

Stock up and Keep on top of your painkillers, the only time I had anything beyond a mild ache was when I waited to take pain killers (eg didn't take paracetamol regularly, and waited till it hurt so then had to wait for it to kick in). The dentist will likelynadvise you to take some before the anesthetic wears off.
If it's more sore than mine was I'd maybe take ibuprofen and paracetamol staggered so both aren't coming to the end of the 4 hours together.

I only needed paracetamol for 2 days I think

I'm genuinely a really awful patient at the dentist but it was less invasive and less worrying for me than things like the hygienist

I had 2 removed on either side, very annoying. They'll tell you to eat soft foods for a few days and I would stick to that. I tried eating pasta that evening but it was so difficult.
It took about 3-4 days for me eat more solid food and then maybe 5/6 before I braved crunchy foods

Thanks all. I’ll stock up on some yoghurt & ice cream I guess.

I’m absolutely shitting it. Never had a tooth pulled before. I’m so tempted to cancel (yet again) but it keeps getting infected so it has to go 😭

I had all four out under GA about 20 years ago and although I was on soft / slippy food for a few days (as god is my witness, I will never eat peach melba yoghurt again), I was able to chew (gently) within about 48-72 hours. Obviously not sourdough bread or venison or anything, but most foodstuffs were okay.

Your extraction hopefully shouldn't be as extreme, so stock up on easy stuff for the first day or so, but honestly, it's not bad.

Just take painkillers (if prescribed) on schedule - as an HCP friend of mine says, don't wait until you're in pain, that's what they're supposed to prevent!

@AffIt thanks! Mine definitely isn’t as extreme as yours, 4 at the same time! How did you cope??

I honestly don’t know if I can go through with it. I don’t even know why I’m asking about eating afterwards, that’s the least of my worries 😭

I understand how worried you feel. I recently had a molar extracted. I was beyond terrified. When it came to it, it was all over with in under two minutes and completely pain free. The relief afterwards is huge. Don't cancel, you can 100% do this. It is nowhere near as bad as you are imagining it to be. 💐

Get plenty of soft food in. I was eating normally within 48 hours. Why are you terrified? I don't mean that snarkily, just asking if eg you have a phobia of dental work generally or if it's specifically this. Mine wasn't pleasant but I got through it fine. You will be ok.

Please don't cancel it.

I promise you I'm a really rubbish dental patient, my dentist makes me take my partner with me, my record is full of flags and the last time I went even the receptionist congratulated me on being more collected this time

I honestly found having a tooth out far better than I thought. I honestly found having the xray and filling on the next tooth worse!

Thank you. I know I’ll be so relieved to not have it hanging over me any more, but I can feel my heart racing a million miles an hour just thinking about it

I’m terrified of the dentist. Not the actual person, the thought of dental work.
I don’t know why, I’ve never had any dental work done other than regular cleans and X-rays, not even had a filling.

I’m terrified of having it out, the needles in my gum, what if they have to cut my gum?, the swelling, the pain after, the risk of dry socket. Just everything.

The thing is, and this sounds really grotty, there’s no tooth left! It was impacted and now it’s decayed to the point of the roots needing to be taken out.
I promise I’m not a scruffy cow, I have good oral hygiene, never needed any work, but I’ve put this off for so long that it’s just wasted away 😭

Speaking from experience, if they cut and stitch the gum, it doesn't feel any different from a straightforward extraction. I've had both lower wisdom teeth out, both got impacted and abscessed. One was cut and stitched, the other not. For me, maybe less bruising/swelling on the cut and stitch, though there was gone after only a day. Was a little bit sore, but I was eating pretty normally straight away (no chomping towards the back of the mouth!) and any discomfort was way easier than the god awful pain of the abscesses.
As to needles in your gum, I've never even felt them go in, nor did I feel the one that had to be given in the roof of my mouth, so I'm sure you'll be fine. Just grit the teeth you have left and get on with it!

Just think about this time next week. Focus on that.

I've had a few out. It's very quick. Unfortunately I've had dry socket a few times and it's awful, but they pack it and time passes. You could always ask for sedation.

Also, don't eat bitty food that will go into the gap.

@Wtfnowseptember looking forward to this time next week is a good way of thinking about it. I just can’t get passed thinking about tomorrow 😫

I don’t think I’m able to have sedation at my regular dentists?

My advice with any dental work is to close your eyes from the minute you sit in the chair.

Just think- people used to pull their own out.

Closing your eyes is what I did too. I also ask for the radio to be put on and I focus on that.

I understand the nerves, I was terrified but I was in agony with mine. I'd waited for nearly 2 years for an appointment to have them removed.
I wanted to cancel on the day because I was so nervous but luckily DH was driving me so I didn't back out.
When I got in there, the dentist and dental nurses were so lovely. He had a look and then said he would inject the gum to numb it. I shut my eyes when he did it and told him not to count down, just do it so I wasn't tensing.
He waited a few minutes and tested it (said he could add more numbing if needed) and then I shut my eyes again and he wiggled the first one and it came out really easy.
You do hear sounds but that can't be helped, you don't feel a thing.
He then moved to the other side of my mouth and repeated the process for the second one. Really quick and that was it.
Im so glad they were done and then had a few days of healing but that was it. My teeth no longer hurt so it really was worth it.

Ha, yes I always close my eyes at the dentist, even for a clean. I just hate every second of it 😆

Thanks all. I know I need to just get my big girl pants on. I’ve had c sections ffs, you’d think I’d be a bit braver. But nope, absolutely shitting myself.

Ha ha I always say that about c sections!!

If there's another occasion contact your gp for a tranquilliser.

I ate, after three wisdom teeth out, the day after.

Just don't eat sharp (no pork chops) food. You'll be fine.👍

I’m not the worst dental patient but I had nightmares before having mine out. Mine got infected and so it was about 5 days of soft food for me. Within about 24 hours of the antibiotics I could start to open my jaw a bit and manage semi-solid foods (so pitta and dips with no bits). They told me to avoid anything too hot as that can make the blood rush to the site and anything spicy. I preferred not to eat eggs or fish in case it got into the site and caused problems, so mostly stuck with mash, ice cream, yogurt (smooth). I was eating normally about two weeks after, even crunchy stuff.

I would say if you can’t manage the pain with paracetamol and ibuprofen, then go back to the dentist. It was excruciating for me with the infection but once I got the antibiotics in me, the pain dropped considerably and just became a little ache, mostly in the evenings.

If you aren’t a good patient, you’re going to tense up in the chair. So take note every so often and just focus on not being so tense. Being tense will make it harder for the dentist, it will be more tiring for you and you might ache elsewhere after too.

When I had one of mine out, the adrenaline afterwards was so ridiculous I thought it was perfectly fine to have a pork chop for tea 🤣

Honestly it probably won't be as bad as you think. Even with a really brutal extraction (took over an hour, tooth broken into pieces and with stitches) I think I only had two days on soup, then very carefully other soft food..pasta is good.

Good luck x

Thanks everyone, reading all this really does help! My stomach is still rolling though 😆😫