If you are one of the millions of people who have chosen dental implants as your solution for missing teeth, then congratulations! You’ve made a great choice when it comes to restoring your smile. However, you may have a few questions about aftercare, such as: what can you eat after dental implant surgery?
Well, the good news is that most people can resume their normal diet not too long after the procedure. But that being said, there are some foods that you will want to avoid for a while in order to help ensure a quick and healthy recovery. In this blog post, we will discuss what foods you can eat after dental implant surgery, as well as those that you should avoid. Let’s get started!
What Can You Eat the Day After Dental Implant Surgery?
Within the first 24-48 hours after the procedure, it’s best to stick with a cool liquid diet. This will help to keep swelling down, reduce inflammation and help you stay hydrated.
The cool liquid diet includes things like:
- Broth
- Smoothies
- Applesauce
- Cold soup
- Milkshakes
- Pudding
While this list isn’t exhaustive, there are some foods you should do your best to avoid during this time. This includes:
- Alcohol
- Carbonated drinks
- Hot liquids
- Using a straw
After the initial 48-hour period has passed, you can start to introduce more solid foods back into your diet.
What Can You Eat in the Weeks After Dental Implant Surgery?
Once you are past the first 48 hours, you can start to introduce more solid foods. However, it’s important to make sure that the food is soft and easy to chew, especially for the first three months. This is because the area around the implants may still be tender and vulnerable.
Examples of soft foods include:
- Mashed potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Cooked vegetables
- Cheese
- Oatmeal
- Fish
- Soft fruits like bananas and melon
You may not have a ton of options here, but do your best to eat a variety of these foods to ensure that you are getting the appropriate amount of nutrition.
What Foods Should You Avoid After Dental Implants?
There are certain foods that you should avoid for the first few weeks after dental implant surgery. This includes:
- Chewy foods
- Sticky foods
- Hard, crunchy foods like chips and nuts
- Foods with small seeds (e.g., strawberries, tomatoes)
- Chewing gum
- Tough foods
- Acidic foods
- Spicy foods
- Very hot foods
These foods can put too much pressure on the implant site, which can cause pain and discomfort. Not only that, but they can also increase your risk of infection.
The Bottom Line
So, what can you eat after dental implant surgery? The general rule of thumb is that you should stick with a cool liquid diet for the first 48 hours after the procedure, and then slowly introduce more solid foods. But most importantly, be sure to listen to your body and take it easy during recovery. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t push it—just stop and rest.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure a quick and healthy recovery after your dental implant surgery. Good luck!
Whether you still need dental implants or are having issues with your current ones, we’d be happy to help you out! Click here to get in touch with Shelburne Village Dental, and book an appointment today.
