Jaw surgery can be one of the more challenging surgeries to recover from. You are likely to experience swelling and bruising, limited jaw mobility, pain or discomfort, and a limited diet. Since we really only have control over the latter, we wanted to share some tips on what your diet after jaw surgery could look like. Not only will this help you prepare ahead of time, but also prioritizing nutrition during the recovery period can aid in healing.
Jaw surgery can be one of the more challenging surgeries to recover from. You are likely to experience swelling and bruising, limited jaw mobility, pain or discomfort, and a limited diet. Since we really only have control over the latter, we wanted to share some tips on what your diet after jaw surgery could look like. Not only will this help you prepare ahead of time, but also prioritizing nutrition during the recovery period can aid in healing.
Week 1 Diet After Jaw Surgery
Your first week is going to be all liquids, and you’re going to want to reduce movement as much as possible as you take in your liquid meals. For example, it might be too ambitious to use a straw right away, so you could use a spoon or a syringe until drinking from a cup or straw feels more comfortable. Because you are not going to be consuming as many calories with a liquid diet as you would with your normal diet, you’re going to want to concentrate on making every sip count with nutrient-dense options. If you have the option to consult with a nutritionist, this could be very helpful as well. At the Little Baby Face Foundation, we recently added an expert nutritionist to our Medical Advisory Board to consult with families while they’re in for surgery.
What to eat: bone broth, smoothies, protein shakes, cold pressed juices, fruit sorbet
What not to eat: spicy, acidic, or hot foods (keep your broths warm, but not hot)
Pro tip: You can prepare ahead of time by having a freezer full of broths, fresh fruits and veggies for smoothies, and protein powder. Also, keep in mind that cold liquids are preferable as they can help with swelling and inflammation.
Week 2 Diet After Jaw Surgery
This week you are likely to feel less pain, but you will probably still experience some discomfort, especially with movement. Therefore, week 2 will be limited to purées and very soft foods. Again, you’ll want to make sure your diet is nutritionally dense and that you eat according to your hunger. Some patients recovering from jaw surgery find it hard to motivate themselves to eat with limited options, but you’d be surprised how many delicious and nutritious choices you have in the purée to soft food range!
What to eat: mashed potatoes, applesauce, puréed soups, steamed or mashed vegetables, cottage cheese, tofu, scrambled eggs, pastina
What not to eat: crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods that could disrupt healing. This includes pasta, even overcooked, but you can try pastina if you can find it.
Pro tip: When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is that you should be able to eat the food with no teeth. For example, you can consume very soft steamed vegetables by smashing them with your tongue against the roof of your mouth, but you can’t do the same with pasta, even when overcooked.
3 Weeks and Beyond
Between 3 and 6 weeks, you’ll be able to gradually reintroduce soft solid foods. At 3 weeks, you can test soft textures and eventually move to harder foods if you do not experience any pain or discomfort. During this time, you want to eat mindfully, chewing gently and slowly. Listen to your body. If something hurts or feels uncomfortable, stick with the softer diet and wait a bit before trying again. Do not rush it, or you’ll risk actually making the healing take longer. Remember that after surgery, your tissue is still delicate and there is healing below the surface that you can’t see.
What to eat: pasta, soft bread (without a hard crust), ground meats, soft fruits (think peaches and strawberries, not crisp apples), rice, steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, hearty soups
What not to eat: Hard foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, croutons, baguette, pretzels.
Pro tip: Cut your food into small, manageable pieces. This will allow you to test different foods without overdoing it. Try to avoid screens while you’re eating because sometimes the distraction can mask signs of discomfort.
After 6 weeks, you should be able to handle most foods, but of course, this is just a general guideline. Everyone heals at their own pace. It’s a good idea to communicate with your doctor throughout your recovery, especially if you’re still experiencing discomfort after 6 weeks, or if you have not been able to graduate to solid foods.
Wishing you a smooth and swift recovery!
Your first week is going to be all liquids, and you’re going to want to reduce movement as much as possible as you take in your liquid meals. For example, it might be too ambitious to use a straw right away, so you could use a spoon or a syringe until drinking from a cup or straw feels more comfortable. Because you are not going to be consuming as many calories with a liquid diet as you would with your normal diet, you’re going to want to concentrate on making every sip count with nutrient-dense options. If you have the option to consult with a nutritionist, this could be very helpful as well. At the Little Baby Face Foundation, we recently added an expert nutritionist to our Medical Advisory Board to consult with families while they’re in for surgery.
What to eat: bone broth, smoothies, protein shakes, cold pressed juices, fruit sorbet
What not to eat: spicy, acidic, or hot foods (keep your broths warm, but not hot)
Pro tip: You can prepare ahead of time by having a freezer full of broths, fresh fruits and veggies for smoothies, and protein powder. Also, keep in mind that cold liquids are preferable as they can help with swelling and inflammation.
Week 2 Diet After Jaw Surgery
This week you are likely to feel less pain, but you will probably still experience some discomfort, especially with movement. Therefore, week 2 will be limited to purées and very soft foods. Again, you’ll want to make sure your diet is nutritionally dense and that you eat according to your hunger. Some patients recovering from jaw surgery find it hard to motivate themselves to eat with limited options, but you’d be surprised how many delicious and nutritious choices you have in the purée to soft food range!
What to eat: mashed potatoes, applesauce, puréed soups, steamed or mashed vegetables, cottage cheese, tofu, scrambled eggs, pastina
What not to eat: crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods that could disrupt healing. This includes pasta, even overcooked, but you can try pastina if you can find it.
Pro tip: When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is that you should be able to eat the food with no teeth. For example, you can consume very soft steamed vegetables by smashing them with your tongue against the roof of your mouth, but you can’t do the same with pasta, even when overcooked.
3 Weeks and Beyond
Between 3 and 6 weeks, you’ll be able to gradually reintroduce soft solid foods. At 3 weeks, you can test soft textures and eventually move to harder foods if you do not experience any pain or discomfort. During this time, you want to eat mindfully, chewing gently and slowly. Listen to your body. If something hurts or feels uncomfortable, stick with the softer diet and wait a bit before trying again. Do not rush it, or you’ll risk actually making the healing take longer. Remember that after surgery, your tissue is still delicate and there is healing below the surface that you can’t see.
What to eat: pasta, soft bread (without a hard crust), ground meats, soft fruits (think peaches and strawberries, not crisp apples), rice, steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, hearty soups
What not to eat: Hard foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, croutons, baguette, pretzels.
Pro tip: Cut your food into small, manageable pieces. This will allow you to test different foods without overdoing it. Try to avoid screens while you’re eating because sometimes the distraction can mask signs of discomfort.
After 6 weeks, you should be able to handle most foods, but of course, this is just a general guideline. Everyone heals at their own pace. It’s a good idea to communicate with your doctor throughout your recovery, especially if you’re still experiencing discomfort after 6 weeks, or if you have not been able to graduate to solid foods.
Wishing you a smooth and swift recovery!
Week 1 Diet After Jaw Surgery
Your first week is going to be all liquids, and you’re going to want to reduce movement as much as possible as you take in your liquid meals. For example, it might be too ambitious to use a straw right away, so you could use a spoon or a syringe until drinking from a cup or straw feels more comfortable. Because you are not going to be consuming as many calories with a liquid diet as you would with your normal diet, you’re going to want to concentrate on making every sip count with nutrient-dense options. If you have the option to consult with a nutritionist, this could be very helpful as well. At the Little Baby Face Foundation, we recently added an expert nutritionist to our Medical Advisory Board to consult with families while they’re in for surgery.
What to eat: bone broth, smoothies, protein shakes, cold pressed juices, fruit sorbet
What not to eat: spicy, acidic, or hot foods (keep your broths warm, but not hot)
Pro tip: You can prepare ahead of time by having a freezer full of broths, fresh fruits and veggies for smoothies, and protein powder. Also, keep in mind that cold liquids are preferable as they can help with swelling and inflammation.
Week 2 Diet After Jaw Surgery
This week you are likely to feel less pain, but you will probably still experience some discomfort, especially with movement. Therefore, week 2 will be limited to purées and very soft foods. Again, you’ll want to make sure your diet is nutritionally dense and that you eat according to your hunger. Some patients recovering from jaw surgery find it hard to motivate themselves to eat with limited options, but you’d be surprised how many delicious and nutritious choices you have in the purée to soft food range!
What to eat: mashed potatoes, applesauce, puréed soups, steamed or mashed vegetables, cottage cheese, tofu, scrambled eggs, pastina
What not to eat: crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods that could disrupt healing. This includes pasta, even overcooked, but you can try pastina if you can find it.
Pro tip: When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is that you should be able to eat the food with no teeth. For example, you can consume very soft steamed vegetables by smashing them with your tongue against the roof of your mouth, but you can’t do the same with pasta, even when overcooked.
3 Weeks and Beyond
Between 3 and 6 weeks, you’ll be able to gradually reintroduce soft solid foods. At 3 weeks, you can test soft textures and eventually move to harder foods if you do not experience any pain or discomfort. During this time, you want to eat mindfully, chewing gently and slowly. Listen to your body. If something hurts or feels uncomfortable, stick with the softer diet and wait a bit before trying again. Do not rush it, or you’ll risk actually making the healing take longer. Remember that after surgery, your tissue is still delicate and there is healing below the surface that you can’t see.
What to eat: pasta, soft bread (without a hard crust), ground meats, soft fruits (think peaches and strawberries, not crisp apples), rice, steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, hearty soups
What not to eat: Hard foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, croutons, baguette, pretzels.
Pro tip: Cut your food into small, manageable pieces. This will allow you to test different foods without overdoing it. Try to avoid screens while you’re eating because sometimes the distraction can mask signs of discomfort.
After 6 weeks, you should be able to handle most foods, but of course, this is just a general guideline. Everyone heals at their own pace. It’s a good idea to communicate with your doctor throughout your recovery, especially if you’re still experiencing discomfort after 6 weeks, or if you have not been able to graduate to solid foods.
Wishing you a smooth and swift recovery!
Your first week is going to be all liquids, and you’re going to want to reduce movement as much as possible as you take in your liquid meals. For example, it might be too ambitious to use a straw right away, so you could use a spoon or a syringe until drinking from a cup or straw feels more comfortable. Because you are not going to be consuming as many calories with a liquid diet as you would with your normal diet, you’re going to want to concentrate on making every sip count with nutrient-dense options. If you have the option to consult with a nutritionist, this could be very helpful as well. At the Little Baby Face Foundation, we recently added an expert nutritionist to our Medical Advisory Board to consult with families while they’re in for surgery.
What to eat: bone broth, smoothies, protein shakes, cold pressed juices, fruit sorbet
What not to eat: spicy, acidic, or hot foods (keep your broths warm, but not hot)
Pro tip: You can prepare ahead of time by having a freezer full of broths, fresh fruits and veggies for smoothies, and protein powder. Also, keep in mind that cold liquids are preferable as they can help with swelling and inflammation.
Week 2 Diet After Jaw Surgery
This week you are likely to feel less pain, but you will probably still experience some discomfort, especially with movement. Therefore, week 2 will be limited to purées and very soft foods. Again, you’ll want to make sure your diet is nutritionally dense and that you eat according to your hunger. Some patients recovering from jaw surgery find it hard to motivate themselves to eat with limited options, but you’d be surprised how many delicious and nutritious choices you have in the purée to soft food range!
What to eat: mashed potatoes, applesauce, puréed soups, steamed or mashed vegetables, cottage cheese, tofu, scrambled eggs, pastina
What not to eat: crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods that could disrupt healing. This includes pasta, even overcooked, but you can try pastina if you can find it.
Pro tip: When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is that you should be able to eat the food with no teeth. For example, you can consume very soft steamed vegetables by smashing them with your tongue against the roof of your mouth, but you can’t do the same with pasta, even when overcooked.
3 Weeks and Beyond
Between 3 and 6 weeks, you’ll be able to gradually reintroduce soft solid foods. At 3 weeks, you can test soft textures and eventually move to harder foods if you do not experience any pain or discomfort. During this time, you want to eat mindfully, chewing gently and slowly. Listen to your body. If something hurts or feels uncomfortable, stick with the softer diet and wait a bit before trying again. Do not rush it, or you’ll risk actually making the healing take longer. Remember that after surgery, your tissue is still delicate and there is healing below the surface that you can’t see.
What to eat: pasta, soft bread (without a hard crust), ground meats, soft fruits (think peaches and strawberries, not crisp apples), rice, steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, hearty soups
What not to eat: Hard foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, croutons, baguette, pretzels.
Pro tip: Cut your food into small, manageable pieces. This will allow you to test different foods without overdoing it. Try to avoid screens while you’re eating because sometimes the distraction can mask signs of discomfort.
After 6 weeks, you should be able to handle most foods, but of course, this is just a general guideline. Everyone heals at their own pace. It’s a good idea to communicate with your doctor throughout your recovery, especially if you’re still experiencing discomfort after 6 weeks, or if you have not been able to graduate to solid foods.
Wishing you a smooth and swift recovery!
Week 1 Diet After Jaw Surgery
Your first week is going to be all liquids, and you’re going to want to reduce movement as much as possible as you take in your liquid meals. For example, it might be too ambitious to use a straw right away, so you could use a spoon or a syringe until drinking from a cup or straw feels more comfortable. Because you are not going to be consuming as many calories with a liquid diet as you would with your normal diet, you’re going to want to concentrate on making every sip count with nutrient-dense options. If you have the option to consult with a nutritionist, this could be very helpful as well. At the Little Baby Face Foundation, we recently added an expert nutritionist to our Medical Advisory Board to consult with families while they’re in for surgery.
What to eat: bone broth, smoothies, protein shakes, cold pressed juices, fruit sorbet
What not to eat: spicy, acidic, or hot foods (keep your broths warm, but not hot)
Pro tip: You can prepare ahead of time by having a freezer full of broths, fresh fruits and veggies for smoothies, and protein powder. Also, keep in mind that cold liquids are preferable as they can help with swelling and inflammation.
Week 2 Diet After Jaw Surgery
This week you are likely to feel less pain, but you will probably still experience some discomfort, especially with movement. Therefore, week 2 will be limited to purées and very soft foods. Again, you’ll want to make sure your diet is nutritionally dense and that you eat according to your hunger. Some patients recovering from jaw surgery find it hard to motivate themselves to eat with limited options, but you’d be surprised how many delicious and nutritious choices you have in the purée to soft food range!
What to eat: mashed potatoes, applesauce, puréed soups, steamed or mashed vegetables, cottage cheese, tofu, scrambled eggs, pastina
What not to eat: crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods that could disrupt healing. This includes pasta, even overcooked, but you can try pastina if you can find it.
Pro tip: When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is that you should be able to eat the food with no teeth. For example, you can consume very soft steamed vegetables by smashing them with your tongue against the roof of your mouth, but you can’t do the same with pasta, even when overcooked.
3 Weeks and Beyond
Between 3 and 6 weeks, you’ll be able to gradually reintroduce soft solid foods. At 3 weeks, you can test soft textures and eventually move to harder foods if you do not experience any pain or discomfort. During this time, you want to eat mindfully, chewing gently and slowly. Listen to your body. If something hurts or feels uncomfortable, stick with the softer diet and wait a bit before trying again. Do not rush it, or you’ll risk actually making the healing take longer. Remember that after surgery, your tissue is still delicate and there is healing below the surface that you can’t see.
What to eat: pasta, soft bread (without a hard crust), ground meats, soft fruits (think peaches and strawberries, not crisp apples), rice, steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, hearty soups
What not to eat: Hard foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, croutons, baguette, pretzels.
Pro tip: Cut your food into small, manageable pieces. This will allow you to test different foods without overdoing it. Try to avoid screens while you’re eating because sometimes the distraction can mask signs of discomfort.
After 6 weeks, you should be able to handle most foods, but of course, this is just a general guideline. Everyone heals at their own pace. It’s a good idea to communicate with your doctor throughout your recovery, especially if you’re still experiencing discomfort after 6 weeks, or if you have not been able to graduate to solid foods.
Wishing you a smooth and swift recovery!
Your first week is going to be all liquids, and you’re going to want to reduce movement as much as possible as you take in your liquid meals. For example, it might be too ambitious to use a straw right away, so you could use a spoon or a syringe until drinking from a cup or straw feels more comfortable. Because you are not going to be consuming as many calories with a liquid diet as you would with your normal diet, you’re going to want to concentrate on making every sip count with nutrient-dense options. If you have the option to consult with a nutritionist, this could be very helpful as well. At the Little Baby Face Foundation, we recently added an expert nutritionist to our Medical Advisory Board to consult with families while they’re in for surgery.
What to eat: bone broth, smoothies, protein shakes, cold pressed juices, fruit sorbet
What not to eat: spicy, acidic, or hot foods (keep your broths warm, but not hot)
Pro tip: You can prepare ahead of time by having a freezer full of broths, fresh fruits and veggies for smoothies, and protein powder. Also, keep in mind that cold liquids are preferable as they can help with swelling and inflammation.
Week 2 Diet After Jaw Surgery
This week you are likely to feel less pain, but you will probably still experience some discomfort, especially with movement. Therefore, week 2 will be limited to purées and very soft foods. Again, you’ll want to make sure your diet is nutritionally dense and that you eat according to your hunger. Some patients recovering from jaw surgery find it hard to motivate themselves to eat with limited options, but you’d be surprised how many delicious and nutritious choices you have in the purée to soft food range!
What to eat: mashed potatoes, applesauce, puréed soups, steamed or mashed vegetables, cottage cheese, tofu, scrambled eggs, pastina
What not to eat: crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods that could disrupt healing. This includes pasta, even overcooked, but you can try pastina if you can find it.
Pro tip: When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is that you should be able to eat the food with no teeth. For example, you can consume very soft steamed vegetables by smashing them with your tongue against the roof of your mouth, but you can’t do the same with pasta, even when overcooked.
3 Weeks and Beyond
Between 3 and 6 weeks, you’ll be able to gradually reintroduce soft solid foods. At 3 weeks, you can test soft textures and eventually move to harder foods if you do not experience any pain or discomfort. During this time, you want to eat mindfully, chewing gently and slowly. Listen to your body. If something hurts or feels uncomfortable, stick with the softer diet and wait a bit before trying again. Do not rush it, or you’ll risk actually making the healing take longer. Remember that after surgery, your tissue is still delicate and there is healing below the surface that you can’t see.
What to eat: pasta, soft bread (without a hard crust), ground meats, soft fruits (think peaches and strawberries, not crisp apples), rice, steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, hearty soups
What not to eat: Hard foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, croutons, baguette, pretzels.
Pro tip: Cut your food into small, manageable pieces. This will allow you to test different foods without overdoing it. Try to avoid screens while you’re eating because sometimes the distraction can mask signs of discomfort.
After 6 weeks, you should be able to handle most foods, but of course, this is just a general guideline. Everyone heals at their own pace. It’s a good idea to communicate with your doctor throughout your recovery, especially if you’re still experiencing discomfort after 6 weeks, or if you have not been able to graduate to solid foods.
Wishing you a smooth and swift recovery!
If you’re looking for help, please contact us using the form below.
If you’re looking for help, please contact us using the form below.