After you’ve had a dental implant procedure, there are certain foods you need to avoid as your mouth is healing. This will allow your dental implants to heal successfully and integrate with your jawbone.
At South Hills Dental Arts, we’ve put together a guide to the foods you need to avoid and ones you can enjoy after surgery.
Before we get into the foods you should avoid, let’s talk about what you can eat following your surgery. After the procedure, your teeth and jaw will be in a delicate state. Twenty-four hours after surgery, we recommend that you stick to a soft food-only diet. The following foods are easy to prep and will provide you with the nutrition you need:
Cold Soup- We recommend avoiding hot liquids and foods after surgery, but you can still eat soups such as gazpacho.
Smoothies- Another nutrient-packed option. You can get a lot of necessary vitamins that you need to restore your energy, and since they don’t require any chewing, they are easier to consume after surgery.
Another important tip is to make sure you drink your liquids without a straw. Using a straw puts pressure on your implants and can interfere with your healing process.
As your jawbone heals, you can begin to reintroduce solid food into your diet again. To help with your recovery process, we recommend eating high protein, nutrient-packed foods such as:
All of these foods can be prepared in a variety of ways without losing their softer textures, making them more comfortable to consume while recovering.
When recovering from dental implant surgery, you need to avoid hard, crunchy foods that could put stress on the dental implants, such as:
By avoiding foods like this, you are keeping the pressure off of your implants and allowing them to heal properly. Once you’ve healed, your dental implants will be able to withstand the pressures of most foods.
Performing proper care at home is essential to the healing process of your dental implants.
The day after your surgery, you need to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste to brush your teeth twice a day. We also recommend that you use a saltwater rinse to flush out the areas between your gums and teeth. This process should be repeated after meals and throughout the day as needed.
After the first month of healing, you can stop using a salt water rinse and start using a tool such as a WaterPik, with the pressure on the lowest setting to begin. You should apply the water jet between the dental implants and the gums on the front and back sides of the teeth. Use the WaterPik at least once per day.
Whether you have questions about your dental implants or would like to schedule a consultation, our experienced team is here to help. Contact us today to learn more!
