What Can I Eat After Dental Implant Surgery?

Dental implants are replacements for teeth that are missing or too damaged to be saved. The name refers to the fact that they are surgically implanted in the bone of the jaw. Placement of dental implants is considered to be a minimally invasive oral surgery. 

If you have an upcoming appointment to get one or more dental implants, or if you’ve just received them, you may be wondering what you can eat after the surgery. Here are some suggestions to help you get adequate nutrition while you heal. 

What Are Dental Implants? 

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is surgically placed in the socket where a tooth is missing. It is made of titanium, a biocompatible material that fuses with the bone to form a solid bond. After the implant has bonded with the bone, a prosthetic can be attached, such as a crown, bridge, or dentures. Dental implants provide the most natural look and function possible in a dental prosthetic. 

What To Eat At Various Stages of Healing 

What you can eat after dental implant surgery depends on the stage of healing and recovery. Here’s a guide to eating at each stage following your procedure. 

• The First 24 Hours. For the first 24 hours after your dental implant surgery it is usually best to stick to a liquid diet. Avoid anything hot that could irritate your gum tissue while it is tender. Cold drinks such as smoothies are a good source of nutrients and will reduce swelling. Protein drinks are also good to promote healing and ensure you are getting enough calories. 
• The Next Day. The day after your dental implant surgery you may be ready to try soft foods such as smooth yogurt, jello, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and other foods that don’t require any chewing. Be sure to let food cool sufficiently before eating to avoid irritation to inflamed tissues. 
• After 1 Week. A week after your dental implant surgery you may feel good enough to eat some chewier foods, but nothing too solid. Pasta, scrambled eggs, baked potato, rice, soft fruits, and cooked vegetables are all more substantial foods that are still soft enough to eat if you’re still experiencing some tenderness. 
• After 2 Weeks. Two weeks after your procedure your gum tissue will have mostly healed and most or all of your discomfort will have subsided. You should be able to eat almost anything, except particularly hard or crunchy foods. If you do eat anything hard, consider chewing on the opposite side of your mouth from where your implant was placed. If you received a full arch of implants, you may need to wait a big longer before attempting to eat anything hard or chewy. 
• After a Few Months. A few months after your surgery your dental implant will be well on its way to healing if not fully healed. You should be able to eat almost anything you want. The only exception is if you still have a temporary prosthetic that is not strong enough to withstand hard chewing. 
• At Completion. Once you have received your permanent dental prosthetic you should be able to eat normally. 

Ask Your Dentist 

The best thing you can do is follow your dentist’s instructions for eating recommendations after dental implant surgery. Everyone heals at different rates and your dentist will advise you on eating habits based on your individual rate of healing. You will have regular follow up appointments after your procedure where your dentist will check your progress and let you know what you are and are not ready to eat. If you have any questions about eating, talk to your dentist. 

Minoli & Vijay, DDS PC provide general dentistry services, restorative dentistry services, cosmetic dentistry services, dental implants and more to the Upper East Side of New York City. Providing great patient care is their ultimate goal.