Whether you are missing one tooth or an entire arch of teeth, dental implants can seamlessly restore your smile and bite. In fact, thanks to their durable makeup and innovative design, you’ll be able to indulge in all of your favorite foods again – after you recover that is! To set yourself up for a complication-free recovery, keep reading to learn a few foods you can eat (as well as the ones you should avoid!) after dental implant surgery.
Foods to Avoid After Dental Implant Surgery
Immediately following dental implant surgery, it’s normal to experience some swelling and irritation. To keep unpleasant symptoms like these to a minimum, it’s best to avoid foods that require extensive chewing power, like crunchy bread and peanut brittle. You’ll also be asked to avoid consuming alcohol since it can delay the healing process and increase puffiness. Lastly, steer clear of acidic and spicy foods, like lemons and hot sauce, which will irritate the incision site.
7 Alternatives You Can Enjoy
The good news is that there are plenty of foods you can enjoy following the procedure that are soft and delicious, including:
- Applesauce
- Soup
- Mashed potatoes
- Yogurt
- Instant oatmeal
- Cooked veggies
- Hard-boiled eggs
5 Tips for a Smooth Recovery from Dental Implant Surgery
Sticking to the right foods is a great place to start; however, there are other best practices you should be following after your dental implant surgery, such as:
- Rinsing with salt and warm water. This will kill the harmful bacteria in your mouth and help prevent infection.
- Avoid touching the implant site with your tongue or fingers.
- Using a cold compress. Placing a cold compress or towel-wrapped icepack against your cheek will reduce puffiness and temporarily numb the area.
- Focusing on rest. If you’re naturally an active person, you may have a hard time staying in bed. However, it’s important not to exercise following your surgery. You can, however, do some stretches and light walking.
- Taking OTC pain medication as needed – Discomfort following the dental implant procedure can be mitigated by taking over-the-counter pain medication.
The success of your dental implants rests heavily on you following all of your dentist’s instructions after the surgery. To make complying easier, get prepared ahead of time by stocking up on the above foods!
About the Practice
Song Dental is where nearby patients can find the solution for all of their smile-related needs, from routine checkups and state-of-the-art dental implants to beautiful cosmetic dentistry. Both Dr. Brian Song and Dr. Arthur Munar are highly trained, skilled, compassionate dentists who utilize the latest dental technology and believe in a personalized approach to patient care. If you’re interested in learning more about dental implant surgery, don’t hesitate to visit our website or give us a call at 630-655-8781.