Weight Loss After Wisdom Teeth Removal: Is Weight Loss Normal?
July 8, 2022 July 8, 2022
Did you have your wisdom teeth removed or plan on going through with it? Are you concerned about weight loss after wisdom teeth removal?
Yes, some weight loss is normal after the procedure (1-2lbs), but significant or prolonged weight loss may be a sign of something more serious. It is important to monitor your caloric intake and how much weight you lose.
Let’s talk about how you can make sure you have a healthy recovery and do not lose an unwanted amount of weight afterwards.
Is it Normal to Lose Weight After Getting Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Yes, it is normal to lose some weight after wisdom teeth removal, because you are likely decreasing your calorie intake. A weight loss of 1-2 pounds is normal and would not be anything to fret over.
However, if you are losing an extreme amount of weight such as 5 pounds or over, you might want to increase your caloric intake to prevent an unnecessary amount of weight loss.
After wisdom teeth removal, you will not be able to eat as much solid food right away.
You may also have some swelling in your mouth that makes it painful to chew. These factors can lead to weight loss because you are not consuming as many calories as you normally would.
Weight loss only occurs when we eat in a caloric deficit. This means that we are burning more calories than we are consuming.
If you are only losing a few pounds, this is not something to be concerned about.
However, if you are losing a significant amount of weight or are not able to keep any food down, you should speak to your doctor or dentist immediately.
It is normal to experience some side effects after the surgery, such as bleeding, swelling, and pain which might make you not feel like eating.
Most people recover within a few days and experience no long term problems, but everyone is different and will heal at a slightly different rate.
Weight loss after wisdom teeth removal is usually not significant, but if you are concerned, talk to your dentist or doctor about prolonged time to recover.
Remember, it is important that you do not decrease your calorie intake too drastically and lose too much weight after getting your wisdom teeth removed. This can lead to other health problems.
If you are having trouble eating solid foods, make sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat soft foods that are easy to chew.
Also, avoid things such as smoking and using straws, as these can increase the pain and swelling in your mouth.
The most important thing is to listen to your body and give it the time it needs to heal.
It is also not recommended to use teeth extraction as a method for weight loss, as this is NOT safe.
Why Am I Losing Weight After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
You are likely losing weight after having your wisdom teeth removed because you are decreasing the calories in by changing your diet.
After wisdom teeth are removed, it is not possible to eat the same types of foods you were eating before surgery.
Also, you may not feel like eating as much because you may have some pain.
Eating soft foods only after surgery is very important to prevent injury to the mouth and promote healing of the tissues of the gum.
When you are consuming your soft foods, they will likely contain a fewer amount of calories.
For example, if you are eating applesauce after surgery, one cup of applesauce only contains about 100 calories if it is unsweetened.
Also, the amount of food you are eating is likely less than you would normally eat. When we eat less food, we consume less calories.
Consuming less calories than we are burning will likely make us lose weight because we are putting our body into a caloric deficit, and may not even realize it.
How Many Calories Should I Eat After Tooth Extraction?
In general, you should keep your calorie intake the same as usual, if you can. It might even be smart to try to increase calorie intake while sticking with soft foods.
It may be hard to try to consume calories after wisdom teeth removal because your mouth is sore and you are probably uncomfortable.
Some good soft foods to eat after wisdom teeth removal are:
Applesauce
Yogurt
Ice Cream
Mashed Potatoes
Mac and Cheese
Scrambled eggs
Mashed banana
Sauerkraut
You might want to avoid the following foods:
Chips
Nuts
Hard candy
Popcorn
Pizza crust
Bagels
Raw vegetables
Tough meat
These foods can irritate the gums and cause pain, and can even disrupt healing of the gums.
Avoid foods from the harsh foods list above and stick to soft foods only, or as your dentist has instructed you.
How Can I Prevent Losing Weight After Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
There are a few things you can do to prevent losing weight after getting your wisdom teeth removed:
1. Make sure to increase your calorie intake by eating soft foods that are nutrient dense.
2. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to stay hydrated.
3. Get plenty of rest so that your body can heal properly.
4. Avoid smoking, as this can delay healing.
5. Avoid hard or crunchy foods that can irritate the gums.
6. Try not to drink through a straw, as this can cause dry socket.
Another helpful tip is to avoid anything with red dye. Your dentist may or may not have instructed you to do this.
Sometimes, red dye can make us think that our mouth is bleeding when it actually is not.
Staying clear of red dye food products will allow you to get a better visual on the healing process within your mouth.
If you are concerned about losing too much weight after wisdom teeth removal, you absolutely must talk to your dentist or doctor. They will be able to give you specific advice on how to make sure you are getting enough calories and nutrients to support healing.
Does Getting Your Wisdom Teeth Removed Make Your Face Slimmer?
Getting a slimmer face from wisdom teeth removal is not likely. In fact, you may even gain weight in your face from the swelling that can occur after surgery.
It is important to remember that you are not getting your wisdom teeth removed because you want to have a slimmer face, you are having it done because it is necessary for your oral health.
When the swelling goes down, your face will likely go back to its normal size, but your face is not going to look thinner from having your wisdom teeth taken out.
If you want to lose weight, it should only be done in a healthy way and not by having your wisdom teeth removed.
Do not rely on the post-op course of any surgery for weight loss as you can end up doing more harm than good to your body. It is not worth the risk.
Conclusion
Wisdom teeth removal can cause weight loss because you are changing your diet and not consuming as many calories as usual. It is important to make sure you are getting enough calories and nutrients to support healing.
Be sure to stick with soft foods only for the amount of time your dentist or orthodontist has instructed you to.
If you want to, you can increase your caloric content by eating the soft foods to prevent any unwanted weight loss.
If you are concerned about losing too much weight after, talk to your dentist or doctor. That is what they are there for.
Remember, as someone who works in the health field, I would never recommend utilizing the post-operative recovery period of any surgery to achieve weight loss.
It is important you do what your dentist or healthcare provider instructs you to do to have a safe, healthy, and fast recovery.
