You can eat anything you like once your dental implants have completely integrated with your jawbone, however, it is very important to follow a soft food only diet in the weeks following recovery.
The day after surgery
Your teeth and jaw will be in a very delicate state right after your surgery. During the first 24 to 48 hours you should only have cool liquids. Avoid any hot food or beverages and do not drink through a straw as this can put pressure on the implant site. Do not smoke for at least two weeks and don’t drink alcohol for at least a few days: the longer, the better for the healing process.
Things you can “eat” after surgery are:
- Smoothies – this is probably the most popular as they are filling, nutritious and easy to pack with important vitamins for energy; plus, they don’t require any chewing.
- Cold soups and apple sauce – avoid hot food but enjoy cold soups like vichyssoise and gazpacho.
- Other cool liquid foods – milkshakes, milk, pudding, fruit juices, nectar and Jell-O
A few days after surgery
For the first three months after implant surgery, you will follow a soft-food diet. Your implants will be integrating with the jawbone during this time, and you might be wearing a prosthesis. The prothesis is not meant to chew hard or crunchy foods. It is important to eat foods that are rich in protein and other nutrients. Some recommendations include:
- Eggs – for a nutritious meal you can mix them with finely chopped vegetables to make an omelet.
- Milk, cheese and yogurt – dairy contains calcium and protein necessary to aid in the healing process.
- Potatoes – can be prepared in a lot of ways to aid in digestion and offer variety to your diet.
- Chicken, fish and ground beef – slowly introduce meat. If necessary, finely chop them and add to salads and pasta.
- Other soft foods – options can be soft fruits, steamed vegetables, pasta, oatmeal, soft breads, etc.
Foods to avoid for the first few weeks
- Hot food and drinks
- Spicey foods like peppers and salsa
- Acidic foods like tomatoes and oranges
- Chewy foods like bagels soft candy
- Tough fruits and vegetables
- Crunchy foods like popcorn and chips
It’s very important to follow your dentists’ guidelines for post-surgery eating. Soon you will be able to eat your favorite foods again. But in the meantime, follow your doctors’ advice.
For more information about dental implants and what is involved, please visit 4mdentalimplants.com. If you feel like you may need dental implants and would like to schedule a free consultation, please give 4M Dental Implant Center a call.
Members of the editorial and news staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal were not involved in the creation of this content.