Dietary Danger: What to Eat and What to Avoid After Dental Implant Surgery

Congratulations on restoring your smile with the help of dental implants. Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy the many benefits of a full arch of teeth. But for now, it’s important that you take things slowly and allow your mouth time to heal from your surgical procedure. In the next few days and weeks, you’ll want to eat a very soft diet, so you don’t put your implant posts at risk or slow the recovery process. Here are some suggested foods that are safe to consume while you heal.

Foods to Enjoy

In the first few days and weeks, you’ll want to stick to a soft diet. This is because chewing may be somewhat uncomfortable, and because putting undue strain on your new implant posts could loosen them or slow the healing process. Be sure to choose foods that aren’t just soft, but that are nutritious and provide dietary fiber, as these will help you recover and keep you feeling full and satisfied. Some options include:

• Applesauce.
• Mashed potatoes (you can flavor them with cheese, butter, sour cream, or gravy).
• Broth-based soups.
• Pureed pumpkin, bananas, avocados, or hummus.
• Non-dairy smoothies or protein shakes.
• Scrambled eggs.

Within a few days, you can gradually upgrade to denser foods including oatmeal, but be sure to ease slowly into these options, as they can irritate your mouth.

Foods to Avoid

In the first few weeks following your dental implant surgery, it is important to avoid certain foods to ensure that your implants are not loosened and the surrounding tissue does not become irritated. While some sources say it’s safe to eat yogurt or dairy products, they are known to cause inflammation in the gum tissue and can trigger nausea, so it’s better to avoid them for as long as possible. Additionally, hold off on the following until your dentist has given the green light:

• Hot and spicy foods, which can cause irritation at the surgical sites, increase your risk of infection, and delay your recovery.
• Hard, crunchy foods and vegetables should be avoided at first as they can be difficult to chew.
• Popcorn, nuts, and seeds should be avoided, as they are not only too hard, but they can also get caught in your surgical site.
• Chewy or sticky sweets can adhere to your teeth and could dislodge your restorations.
• Alcohol can slow the healing process and increase inflammation. It can also cause dangerous interactions with your pain medication.

After a Few Months…

The dental implant healing process can take up to six months. As your mouth heals during this time, you can gradually add more foods until you are once again able to enjoy a full diet. Aim for options that are full of protein, such as:

• Soft, seedless fruits like mangoes, pears, and peaches
• Steamed vegetables.
• Soup or stew with soft meat.
• Broiled fish.
• Waffles and pancakes.
• Hot cereals like grits, oatmeal, and cream of wheat.
• Thin pasta.
• Soft bread or muffins.
• Ice cream.

A few helpful rules of thumb during the healing process are if the food makes noise when you chew it, it is likely too hard to enjoy just yet, and if it hurts when you attempt to eat it, your mouth is not ready.

Remember, while you are likely eager to get back to enjoying a full diet with your newly restored smile, it is important to take your recovery slowly to protect yourself from injury, infection, and dental implant failure. If you have any questions about whether a food is safe to consume, check with your dentist before attempting to eat it.

About Our Practice

At Pace Dental of Vienna, our duo of talented dentists, Dr. Jafari and Dr. Saad are proud to help patients restore their healthy, beautiful smiles with dental implants. While we know that the healing process looks different for each person, we strive to provide safe, effective guidelines that can be used by everyone to help them heal successfully and enjoy their newly improved smile for a lifetime. To schedule a consultation for dental implants, please visit our website or call us today at 703-938-6800.