A very common question patients have after undergoing dental surgery is, “What can you eat after dental implant surgery?” Eating the right foods is a crucial part of every patient’s post-op care. It’s important that you help your body make the most of its natural resources to stay strong and heal quickly. Once a dental implant procedure is complete, our patients must often adjust their diet and create new nutritional habits from the time of their surgery date to the final delivery of their new teeth. Typically, we give our patients a recovery nourishment options list after treatment to ease this transition, but there are a few best practices everyone should be aware of.
Let’s review how to lead your teeth and your stomach down a safe, easy and healthier post-operative path.
The Best Recovery Diet
Soft foods are a patient’s best friend following dental surgery. This means you should be eating foods that are soft enough to easily liquidize. Although ice cream is in this list, make an effort to whip up more nutritional foods and substitutions and get creative with each meal.
- Ice cream, milkshakes and pudding
- Yogurt and cottage cheese
- Applesauce and other fruit sauces
- Smoothies with no leftover seeds
- Avocados and hummus
- Eggs and mac and cheese
What you should not add to your diet after dental implant surgery are foods that might burn, irritate or cause oral pain; get stuck in a surgery site and cause infection; or interfere with blood clotting after surgery.
- Avoid acidic, citrusy or spicy foods
- No seeds, oats or other small foods
- Don’t eat popcorn or cracked pepper
- No chewy and crunchy foods
The Healing Process
What to eat and what not to eat are just as much a part of the healing process as the work your body is doing on its own. The journey is different for each individual, but you should take precautions and make an effort to prepare to handle your own healing accordingly. Oral surgeons often advise you avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after tooth extractions and avoid suction through straws for one week. If you have tooth extractions along with your implant placements, it’s important to keep in mind that these activities can dislodge clots and cause dry sockets to develop.
During the healing process, you should ask about these scenarios and more. Ask as many questions as you need about what to eat and what to avoid so you don’t risk upsetting the healing process or damaging your oral health. On the actual day of the surgery, remember that clear fluids are best. This means you can drink water, lukewarm broth, juice and herbal tea. And don’t forget the importance of protein—another big part of the healing process that promotes faster relief and recovery.
The Post-Op Protocol
After a procedure at By Design Dental Implant Center, our team fully informs you about all the proper post-op protocol and reminders, providing a list of post-op instructions and examples of what to eat. Do your own research as well and ask your oral surgeon about eating after dental implant surgery to achieve the best outcome possible for your specific needs and dietary habits.
The By Design Dental team is always available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer any questions about your dental implant recovery diet.
If you have questions about dental implants and want to invest in your dream smile, book a free consultation today.
