After wisdom teeth removal, most people can start eating soft, easy-to-chew foods within a few hours once the anesthesia wears off, but it is best to stick to liquids and very soft foods like yogurt, applesauce, or broth in the first 24 hours to protect healing sites. Over the next few days (2-3 days), you can gradually add more soft foods such as mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, or soft pasta. Typically, by about a week (5-7 days), you can start eating soft solid foods like cooked vegetables, tender pasta, and soft rice. Full return to normal chewing and solid foods usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks depending on healing progress. It is important to avoid hot, crunchy, spicy, or overly chewy foods and avoid using straws during the initial healing phase to prevent complications like dislodging blood clots.
