Diet After a Frenectomy

A frenectomy is an oral surgery procedure in which a band of tissue called a frenum is cut 1. This is done when a frenum constricts the movement of your lips or tongue too much. The simple procedure is often completed within 15 minutes under local anesthesia. Your dentist might advise you to avoid certain foods for a short time following the procedure.

Time Frame

Recovery time for a frenectomy is short -- generally about 24 hours. During this time, your dentist might advise you to follow a soft diet 2. After the initial recovery period you will have no dietary restrictions. The surgery may be done on either your lingual frenum or your labial frenum. Your lingual frenum connects your tongue to the floor of your mouth, and your labial frenum connects your lip to the gum in front of your teeth.

Soft Foods

Soft Diet List After Bowel Surgery

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A soft diet consists of foods that are easy for you to chew and swallow 2. You can consume pureed, mashed, ground, chopped and moist foods. Starchy foods that are recommended include cooked rice and cereal, pasta such as macaroni, rolls and muffins, soft bread and tortillas. Fruits and veggies include:

• applesauce
  
• fruit or vegetable juice
  
• soft melon cubes
  
• mashed potatoes without skin
  
• avocado
  
• ripe bananas

Dairy choices include

• cheese sauces
  
• cottage cheese
  
• milk
  
• milkshakes
  
• soft ice cream
  
• yogurt without fruit

Protein foods include flaky fish, soft-cooked eggs, pureed soups, tofu and well-cooked and slightly mashed legumes.

Tips

Blending or grinding foods in a food processor makes it easier to follow a soft diet during your recovery from a frenectomy 2. Blend meats and veggies with gravy, broth or sauces to moisten them and make them soft enough to eat. When you blend fruit, also add some fruit juice. Follow your dentist’s guidance when it comes to the consistency of the foods you eat.

Foods to Avoid

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Avoid any foods that are hard to chew and swallow during the recommended recovery period. These include popcorn, taco shells, corn or potato chips, nuts and crisp crackers. Also, skip rye bread with seeds, dry or coarse whole-grain cereals, and cakes and breads with flax seeds or nuts.