What Can I Eat After Dental Implant Surgery?

If you’re about to get dental implants in San Antonio, TX, and want to learn more about their aftercare, you’re in the right place.

Check out this short article to learn about the types of foods you can eat after your surgery and the ones you should stay away from.

Why Do You Even Need to Change Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery?

Getting a dental implant is considered a fairly major procedure. It’s important to take care of the implant site and your overall oral health to give your body all the chances to heal properly.

And food can play a huge role in it. Some foods may interfere with healing, as the implant has not fully set yet and the rest of your teeth are in a more delicate state. 

Luckily, though implant healing usually spans over 6 months on average, you’ll only need to make these dietary changes in the first few weeks.

The Best Foods to Eat After Implant Surgery

It’s best to stick to softer foods that don’t require a lot of chewing or require a lot of pressure to break down.

Right after your surgery, you should be eating:

• Smoothies
• Soups
• Yogurt
• Applesauce
• Pudding
• Mashed potatoes
• Cream soups and broths, etc.

This is because your mouth will be numb for a few hours after the surgery, and there’s a risk you could accidentally bite on your tongue and cheek and not feel you’re injuring yourself.

After that, you can add slightly harder foods back into your diet, such as:

• Boiled vegetables 
• Soft cheeses
• Pasta
• Rice
• Soft breads 

You should be eating these foods for around 1–2 weeks, depending on how fast you heal. It’s also best to chew on the other side of the mouth and keep the surgical site clean.

Foods to Avoid After Your Surgery

Some of the foods that are not great right after your implant surgery include:

• Hard and chewy foods: Foods like steaks or nuts can strain your teeth and require a lot more pressure to break down, which might be too much right after your surgery.

• Sticky foods: Treats like caramel can stick to your teeth and be harder to clean. Not to mention, they are usually sweet and increase your risk for cavities.

• Crumbly foods: Chips and snacks with similar inconsistencies that crumble also need more pressure to be broken down, but they can also form sharp pieces that could accidentally poke the implant site.

Interested in Dental Implants? We Can Help

Dental implants are a fantastic tooth replacement, but they’re not a good solution for everyone.

You can learn if you’re a good candidate for implants by seeing Dr. Jamie Knox and Dr. Lisa Ding for a short consultation.

Request a visit to Smiles of Bulverde online, or call our office at (210) 907-8666 if you have more questions about implants or our other services.