What Can You Eat Following Dental Implant Surgery?

Dental implant surgery is life-changing. If you’ve lost teeth, a titanium implant can replace the root of your tooth, providing you with a firm foundation for a confident bite. Additionally, replacing your teeth with natural-looking replacements can improve the appearance of your smile and restore damaged confidence. 

If you’re considering dental implants, you will have many questions. The procedure typically involves several stages, between which the jawbone that supports the implant needs time to heal. 

With this in mind, one of the questions we get asked is, “What can you eat after your dental implant surgery?”

In this guide, we’ll suggest some of the best foods to eat while recovering from your implant placement procedure. 

Why Do You Need to Watch What You Eat After Getting Implants?

Dental implants are titanium posts that fuse with your jaw to support replacement teeth. Just like when a broken bone heals, it can take time for the jawbone to fuse around the implant. Until this happens, it’s important to avoid chewing anything too hard. Additionally, certain foods could irritate the treatment area. 

For the first few days after your procedure, you should stick to very soft food only. As recovery progresses, you can bring in firmer foods. 

Stick to Soft Foods

Immediately after dental implant surgery, you should eat foods that require minimal chewing. Soft foods are gentle on your healing gums and minimise the risk of disturbing the implant site. 

Some examples of soft foods include:

• Soups: Opt for smooth, blended soups. Avoid soups with chunky ingredients that may need chewing
• Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potato is easy to eat and provides essential nutrients
• Yoghurt: Choose plain, unsweetened yoghurt without any added fruit chunks. Yoghurt is not only soft but also contains beneficial probiotics for your overall oral health.
• Smoothies: Blend fruits, vegetables, and yoghurt to create nutritious smoothies. Ensure they are free of seeds that could cause irritation. 
• Scrambled Eggs: Soft scrambled eggs are an excellent source of protein which doesn’t need chewing. 

Introduce Firmer Foods

After a few days, you can start eating firmer foods that require more chewing. These include:

• Cooked vegetables: Steamed and boiled vegetables provide essential nutrients without being difficult to chew. 
• Pasta and rice: Pasta is easy to chew comfortably.
• Fish: Fish is often soft and easily broken down before eating. 
• Minced meat: Ground meats like beef provide protein while being easy to chew. 
• Beans and other pulses: Beans, lentils, and other soft pulses are packed with protein, which aids the healing process. 

Stay Hydrated

Proper hydration is essential for the healing process. Drinking water throughout the day keeps your mouth moist and helps your overall health. Try to have a glass or bottle of water with you at all times and drink small amounts often. 

Take Supplements

A big, sudden change in your diet can lead to health issues. Taking nutritional supplements can help you stay healthy during your recovery. Vitamins and protein shakes are excellent additions to your diet. 

What Foods Should You Avoid During Dental Implant Recovery?

Certain foods are off the menu for the time being. Don’t worry; once your implant has healed, you can enjoy eating whatever you like. For now, avoid: 

• Hard or Crunchy Foods: Nuts, chips, popcorn, and raw vegetables, as they can potentially dislodge the implant or cause irritation. 
• Sticky Foods: Avoid sticky sweets, chewing gum, and toffee. 
• Spicy and Acidic Foods: Spices and acidic foods may cause discomfort or irritation during the healing process. 

Dental Implants at Harley Private Dental

Dental implants provide life-enhancing benefits, and the alterations in your diet during recovery will be worth it in the long run. Stick to soft foods with a high nutritional value and plenty of protein, and avoid anything crunchy, sticky, acidic, or spicy. 

Before and after your dental implant procedure, our team will be on hand to support you, answer questions, and provide you with advice. 

Call us today to schedule your dental implant consultation.

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