Getting your wisdom teeth removed is a common procedure that many people undergo in their late teens or early 20s. During recovery, you may experience some pain and swelling around the surgery site. You’ll also need to stick to a soft food diet as your mouth heals.
This leads many people to wonder if they can eat instant noodles after getting their wisdom teeth out. Instant noodles are inexpensive, easy to prepare, and seem like they’d be soft enough to eat post-surgery. But are they actually a good food choice during wisdom teeth recovery?
The Risks of Instant Noodles After Wisdom Teeth Removal
While instant noodles may be tempting after oral surgery, most dentists recommend avoiding them during initial wisdom teeth recovery. Here are some of the potential risks and downsides of eating instant noodles right after wisdom teeth removal:
- They can be hard to chew – Even soft, cooked noodles can be difficult to chew and swallow after surgery.
- Spicy flavors may irritate surgical sites – Many instant noodle flavors contain chili powder or other spicy seasonings that can aggravate healing wounds.
- High sodium content can promote swelling – Most instant noodles are very high in sodium, which causes fluid retention and swelling.
- Contains additives and preservatives – Many preservatives and MSG in instant noodles are thought to hinder healing.
- May get stuck in surgery sites – Noodles can get lodged in extraction sockets, under sutures, or between teeth.
Getting food stuck in wisdom teeth sites poses a few potential problems during recovery:
- It can dislodge blood clots – Blood clots form to protect surgery sites, so dislodging them raises the risk of dry socket.
- It can introduce bacteria – Trapped food particles promote bacterial growth that can lead to complications.
- It causes discomfort – Having food stuck can be painful or irritating as you continue to heal.
So while instant noodles may seem harmless at first glance, they come with some real risks after oral surgery. Most dentists recommend avoiding hard, spicy, sticky, and crunchy foods for at least a week after getting your wisdom teeth out.
When Can I Eat Instant Noodles After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Many dentists recommend sticking to a liquid diet for the first 24 hours after wisdom teeth removal. This allows your mouth to begin healing without interference from chewing and swallowing food particles.
After the first 1-2 days, you can gradually add soft, lukewarm foods like applesauce, yogurt, and soup back into your diet. Instant noodles may be okay to eat around 5-7 days after surgery, once your mouth has had more time to heal.
Here are some general guidelines on when instant noodles tend to be safe after wisdom teeth removal:
- 24 hours after: Stick to liquids like water, smoothies, and milkshakes.
- 3 days after: Try mashed potatoes, oatmeal, pasta, eggs, or other soft foods.
- 5 days after: You may be ready for softer noodles in broth-based soups.
- 1 week+ after: Instant noodles are likely okay, but take precautions.
Remember, everyone heals differently after oral surgery. If your dentist has given you specific food guidelines, be sure to follow those first and foremost.
Precautions for Eating Instant Noodles After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Once your mouth has had over a week to recover, instant noodles are typically safe to eat again after wisdom teeth removal. However, it’s still smart to take some precautions:
- Choose softer noodles – Avoid thick, chewy noodles. Opt for thinner, softer ones.
- Strain out seasoning packets – Skip spicy seasoning that could irritate surgery sites.
- Remove large chunks – Pick out any big noodle chunks that may be hard to chew.
- Use broth to soften – Soak noodles in broth before eating to soften them up.
- Cut noodles into smaller pieces – Cut noodles into tiny bites before eating.
- Be gentle while chewing – Chew slowly and carefully on the opposite side from surgery sites.
- Don’t slurp noodles – Slurping hot noodles can displace blood clots.
Eating slowly and carefully is key. Stop eating right away if you feel any pain or discomfort in your surgery sites.
Best Instant Noodle Options After Wisdom Teeth Removal
If you choose to eat instant noodles one week after your wisdom teeth removal, opt for gentler noodle dishes made with softer ingredients. Here are some of the best instant noodle options as you recover:
Broth-Based Soups
Brothy soups with soft noodles, like chicken noodle soup, are a good choice. The broth will help moisten and soften the noodles. Try to avoid soups with large, hard vegetable chunks or meat pieces.
Non-Spicy Flavors
Pick non-spicy or mild flavors to avoid irritating your surgery sites. Chicken and veggie flavors are typically mild and gentle.
Thinner Noodle Types
Look for thin noodles like vermicelli or angel hair rather than thick udon noodles. Thinner noodles will be softer and easier to eat.
Partially Cooked Noodles
Many instant noodle cups come with partially cooked noodles that soften faster in broth or water. These pre-cooked noodles are ideal.
Add Soft Ingredients
For extra softness, try adding egg, tofu, or soft cooked vegetables to your instant noodles after wisdom teeth surgery.
Foods to Avoid After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Along with hot, spicy, or crunchy instant noodle dishes, you’ll want to avoid certain other foods and beverages while recovering from wisdom teeth removal:
- Hard, crunchy foods like chips, nuts, seeds, toast, granola, and raw vegetables.
- Chewy, sticky foods like gum, candies, dried fruit, bagels, and doughy bread.
- Spicy foods that can irritate surgery sites.
- Acidic drinks like orange juice, soda, and alcohol that may cause discomfort.
- Extremely hot foods or drinks that could burn tender mouth areas.
- Smoking and tobacco use, which hinders healing.
Stick with a soft foods diet for the first week of wisdom teeth recovery. Slowly reintroduce more textured foods as you start to heal.
Tips for Softer Instant Noodles
If you want to enjoy instant noodles after your wisdom teeth removal, there are some easy tips to help soften them up:
- Use the broth – Soak noodles in their broth before eating to moisten and soften them.
- Cook thoroughly – Cook the noodles longer than the package directs to make them extra tender.
- Add hot water – After cooking, add a bit of hot water and let sit for a few minutes.
- Microwave – Microwave pre-cooked noodles in broth for 15-30 seconds to soften.
- Loosen noodles – Use a fork to gently separate noodles after cooking so they’re looser.
- Cut noodles – Chop cooked noodles into smaller pieces before eating.
With a little extra preparation, instant noodles can be transformed into a soft food that’s safe to enjoy during wisdom teeth recovery.
Should I Avoid Instant Noodles Completely After Oral Surgery?
While most dentists recommend avoiding instant noodles for the first 5-7 days after wisdom teeth removal, you don’t necessarily have to ban them completely during recovery.
If you take the right precautions, instant noodles can be made safe to eat within about a week after surgery. However, if you are finding the noodles too difficult to chew and swallow comfortably, you may want to stick with softer foods until you’ve healed more.
Listen to your body and avoid any foods that cause pain or difficulty eating. With patience and care, you can usually enjoy softened instant noodles again about a week after getting your wisdom teeth pulled.
Healthier Instant Noodle Alternatives
Instant noodles are convenient, but they aren’t the most nutritious food option – especially when you’re healing. Here are some healthier alternatives to instant noodles after wisdom teeth removal:
Soup
Opt for broth-based soups with soft noodles or rice, lean protein, and soft cooked veggies. Avoid soups with large, hard ingredients.
Congee
This smooth, soupy rice porridge makes the perfect soft food when recovering from surgery.
Mashed Potatoes
Smooth, creamy mashed potatoes are an ideal post-surgery food. Avoid any large lumps.
Mac and Cheese
Look for instant mac and cheese made with softer pasta shapes that easy to chew and swallow after wisdom teeth removal.
Oatmeal
Cooked oatmeal has a soft, smooth texture that won’t irritate healing mouth areas.
Smoothies
Blending soft fruits, yogurt, milk, and protein powder creates a nourishing drinkable meal.
Conclusion
Recovery after wisdom teeth removal requires sticking to soft, gentle foods that are easy to swallow. Instant noodles may seem tempting, but often aren’t ideal in the initial healing stage after surgery.
Once your mouth has had over 5 days to heal, instant noodles can be part of your diet again. Just be sure to take precautions like choosing softer noodles and broth-based dishes, removing spices, and thoroughly cooking and softening the noodles.
Pay attention to how your mouth feels when eating and avoid anything too difficult to chew or that causes discomfort. With a little patience and care, you can safely satisfy your instant noodle cravings again after wisdom teeth removal.
