If you are planning dental implant surgery, you’re probably looking forward to that point when you no longer have pain in your mouth and you can eat, talk, and treat your mouth normally. You’ve probably been dealing with dental problems and discomfort for a long time, so you know what it’s like to adapt your diet and change your eating habits to accommodate that discomfort. 

 

The good news is that, when your mouth heals after implant surgery, you’ll be able to enjoy a varied, full diet without having to worry about what you can and can’t chew with damaged teeth. During that recovery period, though, you’ll have to adapt your food choices a bit to ensure safe healing and avoid unnecessary discomfort. Here are some tips to help.

 

Why Do Your Food Choices Matter After Dental Implant Surgery?

Especially in the initial days and weeks following your implant surgery, you have to avoid any foods that could potentially dislodge the implant. Remember that it takes time for those implant posts to integrate with your jawbone, so careful food choices facilitate safe, stable implants.

 

What Changes Should You Make to Your Eating Habits During Recovery?

Now that you understand why your food choices matter, it is easier for you to make the right choices when you eat after your surgery. In fact, the things you eat will adapt throughout your recovery period.

 

First 72 Hours

In those first couple of days after your implant surgery, you will have some swelling and tenderness where the implant is placed. Cold foods will be the most soothing and the easiest to eat. Opt for things such as applesauce, cold soups, smoothies sipped directly from the glass and even jello. These will be easiest for you to eat without causing discomfort or interfering with the initial healing process, and the cold temperature will be soothing to the area.

 

The Remaining Months of Healing

It takes a couple of months for your implant to fully heal and be safe to treat like a normal tooth. Once you get through the first couple of days, your eating habits can evolve, though. You’ll find that you can slowly integrate the following foods back into your diet:

 

• Scrambled eggs and omelets with soft vegetables

• Potatoes

• Soft fruits such as bananas or even cooked apples and pears

• Dairy products

• Cooked and finely chopped fish, chicken, and ground beef
  
   

What Should You Avoid After Implant Surgery?

Understanding what you shouldn’t eat is just as important as knowing what you should have so that you can make informed choices about your diet. Certain foods can actually disrupt the healing process and leave you facing further procedures. Avoid these food items:

 

• Spicy foods

• Anything hard or crunchy, including vegetables and nuts

• Food or drinks that are exceptionally hot

• Chewy or sticky foods

• Acidic items, such as tomatoes
  
   

Cut these foods out of your diet for those few months of healing to ensure your best results.

 

The goal for your eating habits after dental implants is to ensure that you’re getting balanced nutrition and proper hydration. This is essential to support your body’s natural healing process. Make sure you eat a variety of foods, even if it means cooking vegetables until they are very soft and pureeing fruits.


Contact us today for more information about dental implant recovery and other dental treatments you may need.