Eating After Dental Implant Surgery
by Dr. Scott Bolding | Nov. 14, 2021
Let's Get Back to Normal.
Dental implants can help you get back to what you were missing. Implants look and feel like natural teeth so you can eat what you want and smile with confidence.
Our dental implant specialists are ready to help you get started.
Food to Avoid After Dental Implants
During recovery, the implant will be fusing to your jawbone. This process is crucial to the success of the procedure and ensures your implant lasts long term. Eating certain foods too early after dental implant surgery can interrupt this process, which can loosen and dislodge the implant. Other foods can cause pain or discomfort if you eat them immediately after surgery. Remember, if you want your implants to work they need to heal well. So, you will need to avoid certain foods after dental implant surgery.
Foods to avoid include:
- Chewy or crunchy foods
- Surgery or acidic foods
- Extremely hot food
Chewy or Crunchy Food
Eating chewy or crunchy food can be painful, especially, during the first 24-48 hours. If you chew too much too soon, you can dislodge the implant. Pieces of crunchy foods like chips or crackers can also get stuck in the ridges of your teeth, which can lead to infections.
Examples of chewy or crunchy foods to avoid include:
- Steak
- Uncooked veggies
- Chips
- Pretzels
Sugary and Acidic Food
Citric acid, which is found in a lot of sugary drinks and citrus fruits, wears on your enamel and can cause erosion. Eating too much sugar after dental implant surgery can lead to infection, because bacteria feeds on sugar. So, until your mouth heals, you should avoid:
- Soda
- Oranges and lemons
- Candy
Extremely Hot Food
The metal part of the implant is made of titanium, which retains heat very well. That means if you eat or drink something that is extremely hot, the implant will heat up. This will not only be painful, it can also make it hard for the implant to fuse to the jaw bone properly. You want to make sure that your implants are fully healed before eating extremely hot foods. If you choose to eat things like soup, make sure you give it enough time to cool down before you do.
Food You Can Eat After Dental Implants
In order to make sure you get the smile you want, your implants needs time to heal. Eating soft, healthy food helps your body get the nutrition it needs while still allowing your mouth to heal well.
24-48 Hours
Immediately after dental implant surgery, we recommend that you stick to a liquid diet. This is primarily for your comfort. Your mouth may be a bit sore and you probably won’t feel like eating much. You can try things like:
- Soup
- Smoothies
- Protein shakes
The Days After
After a day or two your pain should start to go away, which makes it easier for you to start eating something other than soup. We still recommend eating softer food for several days to ensure your implants don’t come loose.
Focus on eating food that is high in protein and other nutrients. Eggs, chicken, and fish are high in protein. Avocados and nut butters have healthy fats. And of course, milk, cheese, and other dairy products give you a great dose of calcium, which is great for your teeth and bones.
The Key to a Great Recovery
The biggest benefit to dental implants is that you can eat whatever you want. You can eat all of your favorite food again.
But before you can get back to normal, you need to make sure your implants heal properly. That’s why watching what you eat for the first few days after dental implant surgery is important. Eating soft, healthy food ensures your mouth heals properly and is the key to a good recovery.