Dental implants are a great alternative to removable dentures to replace broken or damaged teeth. Some people require implants for one missing tooth, or most of them, as a result of injury or medical complications. They not only help restore one’s appearance, but help resolve issues with chewing and prevent jawbone shrinkage.
During the recovery process, patients will have to be gentle and discerning about what they eat for the first few days and weeks after the procedure. Eventually, you will be able to eat everything that you enjoyed previously with all natural teeth. But in the meantime, choosing soft foods is necessary to preserve your investment in your smile.
The expert staff at Eriks Dental Group in Boynton Beach, Florida break down what you should and should not eat as you recover from your implant surgery.
Get Adequate Nutrition After Dental Implants
After the initial discomfort from surgery, the next biggest pain is the wait to return to your normal diet. While you may have to avoid some of your usual favorites, one thing you shouldn’t avoid is the same amount of nutrition.
Stay healthy and have a smooth healing process by following these recommendations:
- Eat regularly. Having to avoid certain foods doesn’t mean avoiding food entirely. It’s still very important to eat and drink regularly. This will enable fast healing and keep your energy up. You’ll just have to consume the same nutrients in different forms for a temporary amount of time (more on that below).
- Take advantage of protein supplements. These supplements can come in powder or vitamin form. Many people add the former to smoothies for an added nutritional boost. Talk to your doctor about which types may be right to add to your diet.
What Can You Eat After Dental Implant Surgery?
When dental implants fully heal, they will integrate with your jawbone, allowing you to enjoy the same ability to chew as before the procedure. In order to achieve this, it’s important to follow your dentist’s instructions regarding food and drink in the appropriate timeline:
The First Day After Implant Surgery
Following your new dental implants, a cool liquid diet is recommended while your teeth are still very delicate. But this doesn’t mean skipping out on essential nutrients! For the first 24-48 hours, stick to the following foods:
- Smoothies. A delicious, simple, and filling snack, smoothies can be made from a variety of fruits and vegetables that are necessary for nutrition and energy. They don’t require chewing, which is ideal after surgery. However, it is highly advised to skip the straw, as the sucking motion with your mouth may be painful at first.
- Applesauce and yogurt. These nutrient-rich foods are easy to swallow and don’t require much motion with your mouth, which could be sore for the first few hours or days post surgery.
- Pudding, milkshakes, Jell-O. Less nutritious but still soothing for a mouth in recovery.
The First Few Weeks After Implant Surgery
Once the first critical hours have passed, you can “graduate” to more solid foods. However, caution is still advised, since your implants have yet to fully integrate with your jaw bone. You may be wearing a temporary prosthetic device during this time, which should be removed before chewing anything hard or crunchy.
During this time, it’s important to choose foods that are rich in protein and other essential nutrients. This isn’t just recommended for post-surgical healing, but for your overall health.
Your dentist will likely recommend these easy-to-chew foods:
- Eggs. One great thing about eggs is the variety of ways to cook them. Over easy, poached, omelets…however you like to prepare them, they are soft enough to be great for a mouth that is recovering. As you regain your ability to chew, consider adding finely chopped vegetables if you’re making an omelet.
- Cheeses. Aside from being a soft food that’s gentle enough to chew with new implants, dairy is full of calcium and proteins that keep teeth strong and healthy.
- Potatoes. Baked, mashed, roasted…there are so many ways to prepare this simple food. So many, in fact, that it can feel like a variety of snacks (and its soft texture makes it ideal for eating post-surgery).
- Select meats. Meats should be introduced slowly back into your diet; ideally when cooked soft. That makes chicken, fish, and beef (all finely chopped) ideal with new dental implants.
- Other soft foods. Still looking for more options? Try soft fruits like peaches or bananas, steamed vegetables, pastas, oatmeal, and soft breads (no hard crusts!).
Foods To Avoid After Dental Implants
We’ve spent time covering recommended foods during dental implant recovery. Now you may be wondering: what shouldn’t I eat?
The following foods can potentially damage your new dental implants, prolonging the recovery process:
- Crunchy foods (think pretzels or chips)
- Tough, hard-to-chew foods, such as apples or celery
- Excessively chewy foods, such as certain candies
- Foods high in acid, such as oranges or tomatoes
- Excessively spicy foods
- Extremely hot or cold foods
We also strongly recommend avoiding straws or water bottles that require suction. You don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on the site of your implants. It’s also wise to avoid smoking and alcohol in the beginning (though we suggest quitting smoking altogether for both dental and overall health).
Dental Implants And More In South Florida
Eriks Dental Group is an ideal facility for the whole family in Boynton Beach. From a child’s very first tooth, to braces in adolescence, to getting fitted for dentures, we do it all (and everything in between). We also offer cosmetic procedures, from teeth whitening to dental implants. However, the most important service we offer is regular teeth cleanings: the number-one preventative measure against plaque, gingivitis, and other serious health complications.
To ask about dental implants, or to schedule a cleaning, call our office today at 561-733-4004.