After having dental implants installed, it can be tough to know just what you should and shouldn’t eat.

You’ll be able to get back to your normal eating habits soon, but there are certain precautions that you’ll need to take until your oral surgery site has completely healed and the swelling has gone down.

Learn what you should eat, what you should avoid, and why in this article about what to eat with dental implants!

Why Food Choices Are Important After Dental Implant Surgery

Choosing the right foods is important if you’ve recently had implant surgery in order for your mouth to heal properly.

If the dental implant site is irritated by certain types of foods or beverages, it can become irritated and delay the healing process.

Additionally, most medications will need to be taken with food.

Certain foods can help with your recovery, while others will delay the healing process.

You need to know what to eat after dental implant surgery and what to avoid eating until your oral surgery site has healed.

What Are The Best Foods To Eat Right After Dental Implants Surgery?

Soft foods are the best to eat right after dental implants or similar types of oral surgery.

These softer textures of foods are easy on the surgical site, don’t put a lot of pressure on the area, and are soothing to the gums tissues, especially if they are cool, such as ice-cream or gelatin.

Some good ideas of soft foods to eat while your mouth is healing include things like:

[list icon=”https://dentalhubantalya.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/dental-care.png” icon_color=”#333333″ indent=”4″]
  • Yogurt
  • Slightly warm mashed potatoes, grits, or oatmeal (not hot)
  • Cottage cheese
  • Pudding
  • Eggs
  • Protein shakes
  • Soft beans
  • Applesauce
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If you’re drinking something like a shake, try drinking it directly or using a spoon to eat it instead; don’t drink through a straw, as this could create unnecessary pressure on your surgical site.

You will want to stick to a soft diet for at least 10-14 days after your dental implant surgery.

Also, be sure to stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and clean your mouth as directed each time you eat; this will help prevent food debris from accumulating around your surgical site and causing an infection.

What Are The Worst Foods To Eat With Dental Implants?

Certain foods may cause discomfort or complications after dental implant surgery, so it is important to eat foods that are approved by your provider.

Some of the worst foods to eat (or recreational products to enjoy) after dental implant placement or other oral surgeries include:

[list icon=”https://dentalhubantalya.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/dental-care.png” icon_color=”#333333″ indent=”4″]
  • Hard nuts, chips, or popcorn
  • Firm foods that require heavy chewing
  • Hot foods or soups
  • Tobacco or vaping products
  • Alcohol
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Using a straw ]
[/list]

If the texture of the food could place hard pressure on your surgical site, avoid it until your mouth is fully healed. Something crunchy or hard could dislodge the healing tissues around your implant or potentially cause an infection.

Similarly, tobacco products and alcohol will dry out your oral tissues, significantly delaying your recovery.

How Long After Dental Implant Surgery Can I Eat Normally?

Most people can eat normally within a couple of weeks of their implant surgery.

As you begin to shift back to firmer food textures, avoid chewing on the area with your new dental implants.

If possible, try to chew with other teeth in your mouth and be very cautious of where the food is in your mouth.

After the gums around your implant are completely healed, you can eat whatever you like.

Chances are, you’ll have a temporary prosthesis that you wear once the surgical site heals. This interim restoration can be used to eat most foods, but smaller and softer bites may be preferred.

Once My Implants Are Integrated, Can I Eat Whatever I Want?

Absolutely. The gums over your dental implants will usually heal within a couple of weeks of installation.

At that point, it’s safe to eat most foods. Within 3-4 months, your dental implants will be fully integrated with the bone and ready to support the fixed restoration on top of them.

Once your permanent crown or bridge is placed, your completed implant restoration will be just as strong, if not stronger, than natural teeth. You’ll be able to eat any food you like.

Always Follow Your Dentist’s Instructions

The better you care for your dental implant surgery site, the more successful your treatment outcome is likely to be.

With the right home care and maintenance, your implant investment can last a lifetime. When in doubt, always talk to your dental team about whether a specific type of food is safe to eat with dental implants or not.

Most providers will be happy to provide you with a detailed list of foods safe to eat (or not eat with implants) while you’re recovering from implant surgery.

Contact an implant dentist today for more information.

 

 

 

Sharon Boyd MA, RDH
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