Dental implants are an excellent solution for missing teeth. They look and feel just like your natural teeth, and best of all, they don’t require removing or grinding down nearby healthy teeth. However, following dental implant surgery, you’ll need to take certain precautions regarding your diet. Given that dental implant surgery is a major medical procedure, following the proper post-operative diet is crucial to guaranteeing a speedy recovery. In this blog post, we have discussed in detail what to eat after dental implant surgery and what to avoid.
When Can You Start Eating After Dental Implant Surgery?
Many people wonder whether they can begin eating immediately after dental implant surgery. That’s a fairly reasonable question considering that patients are instructed to refrain from eating for at least 8 hours before surgery.
Well, we understand that, but to your slight disappointment, you cannot start eating right after dental implant surgery. That’s because your oral surgeon would place gauze pads or gauze sponges on the operation site after implant surgery.
These sponges or pads are placed in your mouth after surgery to clean wounds and absorb blood. After an hour or so, when the bleeding has stopped or lessened considerably. These gauges are taken out, allowing you to resume eating.
Foods to Eat After Dental Implant Surgery
After a few hours following surgery, you can usually begin eating. Interestingly, the way you eat is more significant than what you eat. It makes sense to chew with the side of your mouth that did not undergo surgery.
Because we are not accustomed to eating this way, and it differs from the norm, it is pretty challenging to do so for an extended period. However, doing so is essential to giving the operation site the time and space it needs to recover properly.
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No-Chew Diet for the Initial 24-Hour
First, it is suggested to steer clear of food that involves chewing and using teeth. For the first 24 hours, it is usually best to stick to a liquid diet.
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Stick to Soft Foods after 24 hours
After 24 hours of surgery, patients are advised to eat soft foods. The patient should avoid eating hard foods such as apples, carrots, or raw vegetables. They should also avoid chewing gum and drinking anything cold or hot.
List of foods you can try after your dental surgery
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Scrambled Egg Whites
Proteins and other vital elements and minerals are abundant in scrambled egg whites. In addition to omega -3 fatty acids, they aid in the rapid repair of your body.
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Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is another good option after you have had your dental surgery. Greek yogurts have handsome amounts of vitamin B12, riboflavin, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, and pantothenic acid, which collectively facilitate healing.
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Blended Soups and Broths
Blended soups and broths are the best meals for people recuperating from dental implant surgery. The much-needed energy is provided by soups and minor, easily chewable vegetable bits. Due to the discomfort that hot soups or broths can produce at the implant site, it is best if the soup is either lukewarm or cool. They are also a great way to ensure you get enough fluids in your diet.
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Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are an ideal choice to weigh in after dental implant surgery because they are both filling and comforting at lukewarm temperatures. In addition to providing a lot of carbohydrates, which are necessary because patients can feel tired and apathetic post-operation, mashed potatoes are also very cheaply available.
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Avocado
Unlike other fruits, avocados provide a multitude of advantages. Avocados are an exceptional fruit because they provide various benefits. Including low carbohydrate and fiber content, folate (vitamin B9), and vitamin A, which are known for boosting eye and brain health.
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Oatmeal
At this crucial moment, oatmeal-type cereals can be your ideal breakfast meal. It includes lots of protein and minerals, which keep you energized and full all day long, so it can prove to be a nutritional powerhouse.
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Pureed Fruits
A pureed dish is made by cooking a fruit or vegetable and then pressing and blending it until it’s smooth and liquid. It consists of pureed apples, pears, berry puree, and tomatoes, rich in Vitamin C and fiber. In addition to being super-rich in Vitamin C and fiber, these foods also provide the critical requirements of a healing body.
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Mashed Bananas
People suffering from hypertension might benefit from eating bananas for breakfast. Mashed bananas would be a good option because they contain carbohydrates, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and potassium. Vitamins B6 and C lower elevated blood pressure levels, resulting in better healing in people suffering from hypertension.
Foods to Avoid After Dental Implant Surgery
So, by now, you must have understood what foods to eat after dental implant surgery. Now, you must also be aware of the foods that you should avoid after dental implant surgery. Failure to follow a proper post-operative diet and care could lead to complications like infection, dislodged implants, or even jawbone loss. We should avoid certain foods like:
- Hot and Spicy Foods: For a while, stay away from hot and spicy foods like salsa, omelets with green chili, and hot dogs because these wounds can irritate your mouth wounds. Additionally, they can also prolong your healing time.
- Avoid Alcohol: Alcohol consumption is generally discouraged for at least two weeks after surgery since it can interfere with some medications’ mechanism of action and make them ineffective.
- Crunchy and Chewy Foods: Avoid eating anything crunchy or chewy since they can prevent recovery. So please refrain from consuming grains, nuts, popcorn, and chips for a few weeks.
Schedule a Dental Implant Appointment with Dental on First
Our team goes above and beyond when you receive dental implants at Dental on First to ensure you have all you need for a speedy recovery. We’ll make sure you have everything you need, including recommendations for food and beverages and post-operative instructions. Call our office today and book your appointment without any delay.
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