If you’ve recently had oral surgery, or you have surgery scheduled, you’re probably wondering what foods will be easiest to eat while you recover.
We’ve put together this guide to help you plan your dental implant recovery diet.
How Long After Dental Surgery Can I Eat?
In most cases, you can eat directly after dental surgery as long as you stick to a strictly liquid diet. This is because your mouth and gums will be very tender after the surgery, and consuming liquid foods will help prevent irritation. Although you can drink liquids, you should avoid using a straw, which could injure your incision sites.
Since you will need to rest after your surgery, it’s recommended that you prepare your liquid meals ahead of time or have someone help you prepare these meals while you recover. You will need to stick to an all-liquid diet for at least 24 to 48 hours post-surgery.
Ideas For What to Eat After Dental Implant Surgery
After your procedure, you’ll need to stick to a soft food diet and avoid chewing whenever possible for at least a couple of weeks.
Below are some ideas for no-chew foods you can eat during the recovery period. All of these options are rich in vitamins and minerals, meaning in addition to being easy to eat, they’ll be aiding in the recovery process.
- Meal replacement shakes
- Smooth soups
- Smoothies
- Oatmeal
- Soft scrambled eggs
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Sauteed kale or spinach
- Pureed meats
- Cooked fish
- Cooked vegetables
- Cottage cheese
How Long Before You Can Chew After Dental Implants?
It’s important that you avoid chewy and crunchy foods during your recovery from dental implant surgery. Once your mouth is no longer tender, you can start eating easy-to-chew foods, like cooked pasta, tender meats, and soft bread.
Everyone’s recovery is different, so you should consult with your surgeon about how long to eat soft foods after your dental implant surgery. In most cases, dentists recommend you wait at least 10-14 days after surgery before attempting to chew food.
Other Recovery Tips
Here are some more helpful tips for the recovery process.
- Don’t Forget to Eat
You may not feel like eating during your first few days of recovery, especially if you’re experiencing pain or nausea. However, your body needs the nutrients from these meals to fuel your recovery, so don’t skip out on eating!
- Keep Your Mouth Clean
After 24 hours, you can begin rinsing your mouth out with saltwater. This rinse will keep bacteria at bay and help facilitate the healing process.
- Don’t Smoke
It’s important to avoid both smoking and chewing tobacco after dental implant surgery. Using these products can seriously affect the healing process and even cause implant failure.
Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation
When you receive dental implants at Art of Modern Dentistry, our staff goes above and beyond to ensure you have everything you need for a successful recovery.
From post-operative instructions to recommendations for food and drinks, we’ll ensure you have everything you need.
Reach out today to set up a consultation.
