The recovery period following your dental implant surgery is a critical time for ensuring your implants heal successfully. To do this, you should follow your aftercare instructions diligently. These tried and tested guidelines come from years of research from real patients and were designed to give you the best possible surgical outcome and fastest recovery time.
One major area you should be focusing on following your procedure is what to eat. Believe it or not, your diet following surgery plays a major role in your healing process. Here is a list of foods you should (and should not) eat in the following days and weeks after getting dental implants.
The First 24 to 48 Hours
For the first two days after your surgery, it is critical that you only consume cold liquids. No hot drinks, no food. It is recommended that you avoid anything with caffeine, and do not under any circumstances consume alcohol.
Day 2 and Beyond
After the first 48 hours post-op, you can expand your diet a bit, however there are still many limitations on what you can eat and drink. Remember, once your healing is complete you will be able to enjoy a full diet again, but until your healing has progressed a bit more, you must follow these temporary restrictions. Foods to enjoy during this time include:
- Instant oatmeal
- Mashed potatoes, pumpkin, or bananas
- Applesauce
- Broth-based soups, served warm (not hot!)
- Scrambled eggs
- Salmon
- Protein shakes
- Dairy free smoothies or banana ice cream
- Hummus
Beyond the first two days, you can slowly introduce harder foods like soft pasta, or shredded chicken or fish, however, do not rush yourself to eat anything that doesn’t feel comfortable. It could take up to six months before you are ready to truly crunch food, so pace yourself and be proud of your progress.
Foods to Avoid
While there are many foods that you have the green light to enjoy, there are still a few that you should avoid until your healing is complete. These foods include:
- Hot/ Spicy foods
- Hard fruits and vegetables
- Popcorn
- Chips, hard pretzels, or hard crackers
- Sticky or chewy candy
- Alcohol
Remember, the healing process following dental implant surgery can take about six months to fully complete, so don’t force yourself to eat anything your mouth is not ready for. Following these dietary guidelines will help keep your implants safe and protect your gums and incision sites from irritation. If you have any questions or concerns about your diet, please speak to your dentist for assistance.
About Dr. Lively
Dr. Dustin Lively enjoys getting to know his patients and helping them achieve their oral health goals. He enjoys learning more about dentistry from expert mentors in the industry, and he has a true appreciation of how the dental community works together to help each other find solutions that benefit the patient.
To schedule an appointment for dental implants at 333 Dental Care, please visit our website or call us today at 580-782-2552.