If you’ve recently had dental implant surgery, you may find yourself with all sorts of newfound concerns about eating and chewing. What foods are OK and which are off-limits? How soon can you return to eating all your favorite snacks and meals?
One of the most significant benefits of dental implants is that they do not carry any dietary restrictions once healed. However, in the days and weeks after your surgery, you must avoid some foods to protect your new implants.
At Hill Country Oral Surgery, we believe in educating our patients about their procedures and the recovery process, and what to expect after dental implant surgery. People who are planning to get dental implants should review our guide to eating after this procedure.
The Best Things to Eat After Dental Implant Surgery
Immediately after dental implant surgery, stick to soft food that requires minimal chewing. Because the numbing agents used during oral surgery may cause you to bite your mouth or tongue, you should only drink smoothies or protein shakes for the first day afterward.
In the days immediately following surgery, we recommend yogurt, pudding, ice cream, silken tofu, mashed potatoes, applesauce, and broth or creamy soups.
Then, for the next week, you can move on to foods that require more chewing, like macaroni and cheese, rice, pancakes, soft bread, pasta, cooked vegetables, and eggs.
After one or two weeks, you may start adding foods that require more chewing, like meats and raw vegetables. However, this will depend on how quickly your gums and jawline heal. Also, please do not chew on the side of your mouth with implants for at least two weeks.
Foods to Avoid After Dental Implant Surgery
During the first week or two of healing, you should avoid the following foods and beverages:
- Any drink or food that involves a straw
- Carbonated beverages
- Sticky, crunchy, or abrasive foods like seeds, chips, or berries
- Acidic foods like oranges and tomatoes
- Foods served piping hot
- Spicy foods
- Raw fruits and vegetables
- Crunchy foods like chips, granola, or pretzels
- Sticky foods like gummies, caramel, or dried fruit
- Candy or other sugary foods
How Soon Can I Eat Normally After Dental Implant Surgery?
Soft foods can be bland and uninspiring, so most people are eager to return to their regular eating habits quickly after surgery. Typically, it takes one week for patients to feel well enough to go back to their usual diet. But if you are a quick healer, you may return to solid (but not firm or crunchy) foods a day or two post-surgery.
Remember, the food you eat during healing should still be easy to chew. For example, you’ll want to avoid steaks in favor of protein choices like tofu, beans, legumes, or ground beef.
When you eat grains such as oatmeal, grits, and rice, you will want to be sure there are no nuts or seeds and that you cook them thoroughly.
Dental Implants in Austin, TX
If you want to join our long list of satisfied patients who enjoy their dental implants and an improved quality of life, schedule a consultation at Hill Country Oral Surgery to restore your jaw and tooth functionality and facial aesthetics.
