Tongue surgery may trigger nerve sensation loss and swelling, making it difficult to eat. Your physician may recommend that you avoid taking food orally for a week or longer to give your tongue time to heal, and after that you likely have to stick to soft foods that are easy to swallow. Choose nutritionally dense foods to boost your intake of vitamins and minerals.
Applesauce
Consume applesauce after tongue surgery -- The Ohio State University website notes that thick applesauce makes swallowing easier -- for a small boost of potassium. A 1-cup serving of applesauce contains 181 mg of potassium; your meal plan should include 2,000 mg of this mineral each day to help your muscles work, including your tongue.
Soft Tofu
Soft tofu provides just enough texture to ease swallowing and provides nutritional benefits. A 1-cup serving of this soybean product contains 1 mg of manganese, a significant portion of the daily recommended intake of this mineral of 1.8 to 2.3 mg. Manganese is critical after tongue surgery as it plays a role in the formation of connective tissues and function of your nerves, including those in your mouth.
Yogurt
Including yogurt in your post-tongue surgery diet helps you introduce calcium into your diet. A 1-cup serving of plain yogurt has 296 mg of this mineral; you need 1,000 mg of calcium daily. The calcium in yogurt works to maintain the function of your nerves and muscles, so it is a good option for helping to return your tongue to normal function.
Grits
Grits are a soft cereal ideal for your diet after tongue surgery due to their soft texture. Eat a 1-cup serving of this corn product, and you take in 0.2 mg of thiamin, or vitamin B-1. The thiamin you get in your diet -- the daily recommended intake stands at 1.1 to 1.2 mg -- helps keep your muscles and nerves working correctly. Without enough of this vitamin in your meal plan, you can develop muscular and nervous system function, which can complicate your recovery.
Pudding
Choose pudding to satisfy your sweet tooth after tongue surgery; this food is soft in texture and not difficult to swallow. A 1-cup serving of vanilla pudding provides you with 277 mg of calcium, and it is also a good source of riboflavin, with 0.4 mg. Like all B vitamins, riboflavin positively influences nervous system function, but endeavor to include the recommended 1.1 to 1.3 mg of this vitamin in your diet each day -- a riboflavin deficiency may cause further tongue swelling.
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