Dental implant surgery requires rest and healing afterwards, and special care to make sure you heal quickly, comfortably, and safely. After surgery, your mouth may feel tender and swollen, so the foods you eat will have an impact on your healing as well as your pain management.
Post Dental Implant Surgery Food Tips
Prior to dental implant surgery, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and have some post-surgery appropriate foods ready to eat. Check with your family dentist; he or she probably has some great suggestions for what to eat after surgery.
Here are are some post-surgery food tips that will help with the healing process:
- Eat soft foods
- Stay away from foods with seeds
- Try to maintain good nutrition
- Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water
- Don’t skip meals
What are safe foods to eat while healing from dental implant surgery?
Foods that are soft, nutritious, and won’t get stuck in your teeth are generally the safest to eat when recovering. Try to incorporate these foods as much as possible during the healing process:
- Ice cream and milkshakes – This is a time to let yourself be comforted, so it’s okay to have ice cream and milkshakes. The cold ice cream is a natural pain reliever.
- Soups – Soups are a great comfort food—just make sure they aren’t too hot, which isn’t good for your mouth at this time. Pureed soups, like butternut squash or cream of chicken, are good options. Also make sure the ingredients in the soup, like noodles, vegetables or chicken, are soft.
- Eggs – Eggs are a nutritious choice with lots of protein. Scrambled eggs are especially easy to eat.
- Oatmeal or other soft cereals – Choose cereals that are made of whole grains and low in sugar to maximize nutrition and keep you full.
- Applesauce or other pureed fruit – Sauces are warm and comforting; any pureed fruit is good, like pears, apples, peaches or bananas. Remove seeds at first, as they can become trapped in the surgical site.
- Mashed potatoes or other vegetables – Get creative here; not only are mashed potatoes great but so are mashed sweet potatoes, butternut or acorn squash, cauliflower, or beans and peas.
- Smoothies – These can be a stand-alone meal with some yogurt, fruits, and whatever else you toss in. Like milkshakes and ice cream, the cold will be good for your mouth. Stay away from the berries due to their seeds.
Foods to stay away from post implant surgery:
- Hot foods – Things like tea, soup, and eggs are all great choices, but let them cool a bit before eating.
- Straws – Go strawless with your shakes and smoothies. Sucking puts pressure on your site and can cause damage.
- Hard or sticky foods – Avoid foods that require a lot of chewing or are sticky or hard.
Within a few days, you will be feeling much better, and the best news is that once your dental implants have healed, you can eat whatever you want!
Please contact us at Watkin Dental Associates for more information on dental implants or any other dental procedure. Our expert staff is here to help!
