After years of frustration with wearing dentures, you’ve decided to take the leap and get dental implants in Westhampton. You anxiously look forward to the moment when you can bite into a crisp, juicy apple again without worrying that your replacement teeth will slip out of place. However, when you go in to have the implant posts placed into your jaw bone, your dentist informs you that there are foods you should not eat for at least a few days after the procedure.
Wait! Shouldn’t you be able to eat whatever you want? It’s important to remember that the placement procedure is considered minor surgery, which means your mouth will require some downtime to heal afterward. As a result, there is food you should and shouldn’t eat in the days that follow the placement procedure.
Foods to Avoid After Surgery
Although your dental implants will eventually enable you to eat basically any food you’d like, you’ll need a little bit of time for your gum tissue to recover from the surgical procedure. Immediately after surgery is not the time to indulge in your favorite hard, chewy, hot, or spicy foods. In fact, below are some of the foods you need to stay away from to have a smooth recovery:
- Nuts, popcorn, chips. Bits of these foods can end up on the incision site, causing irritation or an infection.
- Candy. Harmful bacteria thrive on sugar, so it’s best to steer clear of it while you’re healing.
- Alcohol. This tends to increase swelling and pain, making it counterproductive in your recovery.
- Spicy sauces. Extreme heat or spices can easily irritate the surgical site.
Foods to Enjoy After Surgery
In order to heal properly, you need to keep up your strength with a healthy diet, and you need to choose your foods wisely to avoid complications. This means opting for soft, nutritious foods that don’t require much jaw movement to consume. Here are some examples of good food options following implant placement surgery:
- Applesauce. This is packed with Vitamin C and fiber.
- Warm broth soups. Full of protein, this soup is easy to drink/eat.
- Mashed potatoes. Feel free to flavor mashed potatoes with gravy, butter, or cheese.
Over time, you can add in slightly more textured foods like oatmeal, cottage cheese, and more. You can even indulge in smooth ice cream every now and then!
Try to be patient through those first few days following implant placement. By helping your surgical site heal properly, you’ll be much less likely to experience complications or infections, and more quickly get to the point where you can bite with confidence.
About the Practice
Husband-and-wife team, Dr. Alexis Gersten and Dr. Jason Parli have owned and operated Beach Dental for many years now. Each with advanced training and decades of clinical experience, they are proud to offer dental implant placement and restoration. If you have questions about your dental implant or you would like to learn more about this procedure, you can contact Drs. Gersten and Parli at Beach Dental by clicking here.