eTopical Precious Finds
After dental implant surgery, your body will still need to undergo healing for a few months as the implant itself becomes fused with the jaw bone. Thankfully, this does not mean you can’t eat normally for months. A temporary crown is placed over the area where the implanted post is in order to protect it so that you can eat something.
Let’s take a look at what you can eat and when – and what you should avoid, if possible.
The 24 Hours Following Dental Implant Surgery
Immediately following your oral surgery, you are likely to have numbing throughout your mouth from the local anesthesia. It is not advised that you eat anything during this time in order to reduce the chance of injury.
Once you begin to get your feeling back, you can feel free to eat soft foods. This includes things that you do not have to chew, such as:
- Yogurt
- Ice cream
- Smoothies (without the straw)
- Soup
- Pudding
- Applesauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Oatmeal
- Protein shakes
- Sweet potatoes
As you begin to feel better, you can slowly begin to add soft chewable foods into your diet. This will get your mouth moving and chewing again. Keep in mind that there is no need to rush this. You may feel up to eating some macaroni and cheese within a few hours from surgery whereas another patient may not feel up to it until a day or two later.
These foods include:
- Pasta
- Flaky fish
- Tofu
- Scrambled eggs
- Chunky soups
- Macaroni and cheese
- Ground beef
- Chicken
During these 24 hours, the surgical site may still be a little tender so you want to avoid anything too hard that may hurt the surrounding sensitive area. And always make sure you are chewing on the opposite side.
After the First 24 Hours
Once the first 24 hours have surpassed, you can begin to return to a normal diet – with caution. Take this next week to continue avoiding anything that is:
- Hard
- Crunchy
- Sticky
That means staying away from chips, nuts, seeds, pretzels, candies, and so forth. Also avoid beverages that are carbonated and acidic, such as soda, tomato juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, etc. Hot beverages can cause irritation, too, so make sure you consume tea, coffee, and so on at a mild temperature. Avoid spicy and hot foods for the same reason.
One Week After Dental Implant Surgery
One week after your dental implant surgery you can go back to eating normally – as long as you feel up to it. If you think you need a little more time, then give your body that time before adding in the additional foods.
Should you notice any swelling or bleeding, then be careful with what you consume and contact your dentist.
For over four decades, The Smiles Architects have been serving the Huntersville community by creating beautiful, healthy smiles. And that includes the precise placement of dental implants. If you are looking to replace a missing tooth – or multiple teeth – they are there for you.
