Some dentists want to pull all of your teeth the day they put in your new dentures. One of the biggest problems after the surgery is figuring out which foods you can or should eat. Your entire mouth will be tender, so chewing is not a good idea at the moment. But you still need food, so you have to find something that works. These tips and suggestions will help you find foods that you can comfortably and safely eat.

• For the first few days, if not longer, you should avoid anything that requires chewing. If you had all of your teeth extracted, your dentist probably used sutures. Aggravating these stitches will make you miserable. Chewing, at this point at least, is a very bad idea. Stick to things that you can simply swallow, like applesauce and pudding. You can also try foods that you can smash against the roof of your mouth with your tongue, like bananas.

• Your mouth will probably be swollen for several hours, if not a few days. Room-temperature or cool foods won't aggravate the swelling. Hot foods, on the other hand, might make you feel worse. Stock up on foods that taste good even after you've let them cool off. Certain soups, for example, are good even when they're lukewarm.

• Put very small portions into your mouth. Yes, it's going to take you a while to finish off that one scrambled egg, but you won't hurt too badly if you take things easy at this point. You should also use a very small spoon or fork so that you don't have to open your mouth very much.

• Baby food is not out of the question. Hey, this stuff is designed for humans without teeth. Sure, you have new teeth, but you can't use them to full capacity just yet. Go enjoy a jar of pureed peas, or one of the yummy desserts the baby-food makers offer.

• Supplementary liquids—like protein shakes—are also good right about now. You'll get protein and other vital nutrients without chewing. Some of these shakes taste good, too, which is always a plus

• You might, for at least the first couple of days, avoid foods that stick to your new teeth. Cake, for example, will stick to the roof of your mouth. This isn't so bad once you've healed, but right now it can be very frustrating. You have to either work the food loose with your tongue or open your mouth wide enough to retrieve the sticky food with your finger. It's just easier, and more comfortable, to avoid the situation if you can.

Look around the kitchen for other things that you can eat. You should also speak with your dentist, as he or she is able to give you a list of good things to eat the first few days after your procedure.

Trying to find edible food can be very frustrating, but remember that this is not permanent. Your mouth will heal soon, which means that you'll be able to start chewing again in just a few days or so. And after that, you'll continue healing, which means that you'll work your way back up to pizza and steaks before you know it. Once you can use your dentures, make sure you take care of them and take them in for denture repairs when needed. 

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