What Is Involved in Getting a Dental Implant?

Dental implants are a welcomed alternative to dentures and bridgework. They are used to restore teeth functions and improve aesthetics. There is a lot that goes into the procedure, and it’s mostly performed in stages. The healing period is crucial; that is why you need a dental implant recovery diet. The doctor will usually suggest food to eat after dental implant after you are done with the procedure. But the implants will affect your chewing ability, so you may have to make some dietary changes in the long run. Compared to dentures, implants provide much easier eating. Sliding dentures makes chewing extremely hard. Diet after implant surgery is the main concern for most patients. That is why we have put together this article to help you cope with the new implants.

What to Eat After Dental Implant Surgery – Day after Surgery

The day after the surgery, your implants will be in a delicate state. Food after dental implant surgery should not cause any discomfort or disrupt the implants. For the first two days, you should probably stick to a cool liquids diet. Try to avoid hot beverages and foods, especially when you have full mouth dental implants. Do not drink from a water bottle or through a straw. Anything that requires suction may put too much pressure on the implants at this point.

It’s also a safe bet to keep alcoholic drinks and smoke. Your healing process may take even six months. Drinking alcohol will slow down the healing. Smoking during this time will also be detrimental. However, you should not skip any meals because you need the nutrients for a speedy recovery. The dental soft diet should contain all the nutrients you need.

Follow the instructions your doctor prescribed if you have special diet requirements. All these are things to do a day or two after the procedure. You will progress gradually into solid foods as your implants continue to heal.

Recommended Meals to Eat After Dental Implant Surgery

The first few days after surgery, comfort is the most important thing. Solid foods will make you uncomfortable and compromise your implants. In case you were wondering what can I eat after dental implant, these are the best recommendations.

• Cold soups. Your dental implant recovery diet should contain some cold soups. You have to avoid hot liquids and foods, but nothing should stop you from enjoying a cold bowl of soup.
• This is the time to turn everything into a smoothie. They don’t need chewing, and you can pack them with all the nutrients and vitamins you need. Also, you can substitute them with other drinks like milkshakes or fruit juices.
• Immediately after full mouth or all on 4 dental implants surgery, you won’t be able to bite into an apple. But you can get the same nutrients in applesauce.

You can pick your favorite foods and drinks, but the rules still apply. They have to be cold and smooth, so you don’t chew a lot. Popcorns, nuts, sunflower seeds, and rice are a big no. That is because they easily get stuck in surgical areas. Remember to include a lot of water in the dental implant recovery diet. Staying hydrated is great for your overall health.

Soft Food Diet Weeks after the Implant Surgery

 

Dental implants are long-term solutions that allow you to smile, speak and even eat as you would normally. But for a few weeks after the procedure, you should embrace a dental soft diet. When you make a full recovery, you will eat all your favorite foods without pain. This is the food to eat after dental implant from two weeks post-op.

• Steamed vegetables. Some vegetables can be hard and may demand chewing. But when you steam them, they become soft and easy to eat.
• Soft fruits. Start incorporating fruits in your soft food diet after dental implants. Mangoes, bananas, peaches and other similar fruits are okay.
• There are so many ways you can prepare soft potato diets to keep your meals interesting.
• Eat ground beef, chicken, or fish. As you can see, your diet after implant surgery will be slowly going back to normal. Ensure the meats are soft, and you can cut through them with a fork.
• Dairy products. Milk, cheese and yogurt can also spice up the diet. These products will also keep your teeth strong. They contain a lot of protein and calcium.
• Soft loaves. You can also eat some bread, muffins, and even waffles as long as they are soft.

Food to Avoid After Dental Implants Surgery

Heavy chewing is discouraged for a while when you have all on 4 dental implants or any other kind. For that reason, you should stay away from these foods.

 

• Crusty bread
• Pretzels and chips
• Hard candy
• Sticky foods
• Steaming hot drinks and foods
• Raw vegetables and apples
• Corn on the cob

This list gives you an idea of what foods to avoid. All the soft foods to eat after dental surgery we have recommended are enough to sustain you through the recovery period. Implants will give you 90% of your chewing ability back. Suppose you were wondering, do dental implants feel like real teeth? They will feel real, but the chewing ability may not reach 100%. So even after recovery, you will still need adjustments to your diet.

 

How to Get Enough Nutrition after Dental Implant Surgery

1. Eat Regularly

Your soft food diet after dental implants should have regular meals. Drinking and eating all the time will give you energy and nourishment. There is no way around it if you want to recover and feel better faster. Understandably the soft foods to eat after dental surgery are not many. But they are enough to distribute evenly throughout the day. Have different types of smoothies and soups regularly or any other soft food of your choosing. Protein is what most people on a soft diet lack. So ensure you include enough of it in the diet.

2. Add Protein Supplement To Your Diet.

We recommend adding protein supplements because if you are not getting enough, your recovery will be hard. Eating will be a little uncomfortable at the start, but it’s crucial to follow the dietary restrictions. Do not aggravate your healing process in any way. The secret to making things easy for yourself is picking your favorite foods. Drink your favorite cold soups, milkshakes, smoothies and other suitable beverages. You may get excited to start eating normally again but fight the temptation and stick to the recommended foods.

3. Check Your Glucose Frequently If You Have Diabetes.

Maintain your regular eating habits with food after dental implant surgery. But also remember to keep track of your glucose level. It will help you prevent any infections and also avoid diabetic-related complications. Your priority should be to keep the healing process as smooth as possible. You will soon restore aesthetics and function with the implants, and you can eat what you want.

Caring For Your Dental Implants

Do dental implants feel like real teeth? Most people ask this question, and the simplest answer is yes. They also demand the same care as real teeth. So these aftercare tips will help you.

1. Floss everyday

If you had no flossing routine, now is the time to come up with one. Flossing becomes more important than ever when you have implants. Plaque should never accumulate around the dental implants because it will cause oral hygiene issues. Luckily there are flosses designed specifically for people with dental implants. So you have no excuse whatsoever to go even a day without flossing. We recommend you floss at least twice every day.

2. Use A Soft-Bristle Brush For Cleaning.

Consider changing your toothbrush to a soft nylon brush after the implants. They are gentle on your implants and will make your cleaning sessions more bearable. Hard brushes will scratch or bruise the surfaces of your implants. Stay away from anything with metal once the implants are in place. Regular brushing twice a day is okay to keep your mouth healthy and clean. You should also buy sensitive cleaning products. Be careful with the mouthwash and toothpaste you use. Abrasive products will cause you too much discomfort.

3. Avoid Sticky And Hard Foods.

What can I eat after implant surgery? This question usually has the same answers. Avoid hard and sticky foods; instead, eat soft foods and beverages. The food you eat will also affect how you care for and clean your dental implants. Eating sticky foods will force you to brush the implants thoroughly, which may cause problems. But when you stick to soft food, your recovery and cleaning will be easy. Caring for dental implants is fairly easy when you follow the instructions.

4. Visit The Dentist Regularly

Regular visits to the dentist are an aftercare necessity. Only the doctor can catch any issues or infections with the implants early and rectify them. Take all the prescribed medications from your doctor, and if you notice anything wrong, consult. With visits to the dentist and proper care, your implants can last a lifetime. Your relationship with the doctor should not end when you walk out of the office. Try to stay in touch to ensure everything is going according to plan.

FAQs

What Can I Eat With Dental Implants?

You can eat a soft diet after dental implants. The main things to avoid are steaming hot, hard, and sticky foods. If you are to eat meat, vegetable and bread, ensure they are well-prepared and soft. Make lots of smoothies and fruit juices for the hard fruits and vegetables that you can’t eat raw.

How Long After Dental Implants Can I Eat Normally?

You can start eating normally after your jaw has fully healed. This time varies from one patient to the next. But you should expect everything to return to normal between six to nine months. Until then, you should stick to a soft diet to avoid disrupting the recovery. Healing will be behind the scenes; you will not feel it. So before you declare yourself healed, consult your doctor.

Can I Eat Normally With Dental Implants?

The dental implants will give you 90% of your chewing ability back. It may not be fully normal, but it’s the best option in the market today. With dentures, you may never eat normally again. But after the implants are healed, you can enjoy all your favorite foods and drinks.

How Do I Add Proteins To A Soft-Food Diet?

Eggs, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products are great sources of proteins. You should consider adding protein powder to your smoothies. Weeks after your surgery, you can start introducing meats into your diet. But ensure they are softer meats like fish, ground beef and chicken. These are ways to keep your protein intake high while you recover without compromising the diet.

Is The Loss Of Appetite Normal After Dental Implant Surgery?

You may be nervous to eat if you fear that you are going to damage the implants. You are avoiding food because the loss of appetite is not a side effect of the implants. But if you stick to the foods we have recommended above, you will not hurt the surgery site. It’s important to get enough food and fluids into your body during this time.

Final Thoughts

Get free dental implants consultation by booking an appointment with us. We will answer any other of your questions about dental implants and what to expect after the procedure. The implants are an amazing option when you want to get your smile back and eat normally again. But you have to make an informed decision that benefits you. Hopefully, this article answers some of your most burning questions about dental implants.