Buy food like soup, yogurt, ice cream, applesauce, jello, and mashed potatoes. Don’t buy anything that could leave residual food pieces in your mouth like cookies, nuts, rice, or pasta. Drink water and juice, but avoid drinks like soda and alcohol.

Try boiling vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, potatoes, onion and peppers and then smash them all together. Add a little vegetable stock to create a soup. Allow it to cool before you eat it. You can expect to not be able to open your mouth very wide soon after the surgery, so big spoons can cause problems. Make sure to have spoons that are the right size for you.

An advantage to eating cold foods is that it can help numb your mouth, causing you to not feel any pain for a short while. The cool temperatures can also work to soothe your mouth after the surgery. Avoid hard and crunchy foods, like corn chips, as well as anything spicy, which could irritate your gums. [4] X Expert Source Alina Lane, DDSBoard Certified Dentist Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.

Most people start eating normally again after five to seven days post-surgery.

Make sure that you listen to everything your doctor tells you and follow their instructions to the letter.

Instead of using a straw, just drink any liquids as you normally would from a glass. Use extra caution not to drink too much at one time. Take small sips.

Make sure you follow your doctor’s orders regarding mouth rinsing.

Chew more slowly and gently than normal so that you can be extra careful about where the food lands in your mouth as you are chewing and you don’t put any pressure on areas that are swollen.

If you must smoke, wait at least 48 hours after the surgery and then be sure to rinse your mouth out after every single cigarette.

Make sure you are staying hydrated and drinking an adequate amount of water. By the second day, you should have a bit of your normal hunger returned. But even if you aren’t hungry, you should at least eat a little something from the second day on.

Brushing will help keep your mouth clean and assist with the healing process, even if it is a bit uncomfortable.

Make sure you rinse your mouth immediately after you eat something. You should continue with regular salt water rinses for one week after the surgery.