If you’ve recently had dental implant surgery or you’re interested in getting implants at Jackson Family Dentistry, you may be wondering what you should eat during the 1-2 week recovery period. In this blog, we’ll discuss a few foods you should eat, as well as some that you should avoid as you recover.
What To Eat After Dental Implant Surgery
Generally, you’ll need to eat very soft foods and a liquid diet for up to a week after your appointment. After 1-2 weeks, you can start introducing tougher, chewier foods into your diet. Here are a few tips and suggestions for what to eat after dental implant surgery in Jackson.
- Soft fruits – Soft fruits like peaches, berries, and bananas are a good option. You can eat fruits on their own, or mix them into smoothies.
- Oatmeal – Oatmeal is nutritious and delicious, and is very soft and easy to eat after dental implant surgery.
- Dairy like yogurt, milk & cheese – Milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, and other such dairy products are a great way to get some protein into your diet after surgery.
- Mashed potatoes – Who doesn’t love a pile of mashed potatoes with gravy and butter? This is a great choice as a side dish, or even a full meal!
- Eggs – You can eat eggs pretty much any way you want. Scrambled, fried, poached, or hard/softboiled, they’re soft and nutritious, making them a great choice for snacks and meals.
- Soups and broth – Pretty much any soup or broth will be a great choice after dental implant surgery. Go for thinner, more broth-like soups after the first week of your treatment. After about a week, you can eat thicker soups like stew and chili.
Any food that’s mild in flavor, soft, and not chewy or tough will be a good choice. For more information, contact the recovery instructions provided to you by Dr. Major or Dr. Heffter after your appointment.
What To Avoid Eating After Dental Implant Surgery
There are definitely some foods you’ll want to avoid after your dental implant surgery, including the following:
- Hard foods – Don’t chew on nuts, ice, hard candy, or other such hard foods, as this could damage your implant.
- Crunchy foods – You should avoid crunchy foods like chips and popcorn to make sure you heal quickly.
- Tough & chewy foods – Very tough, chewy foods like jerky, steak, and raw vegetables are not usually a good choice after surgery.
- Spicy foods – Very spicy foods will irritate your surgical site and cause pain and discomfort. Avoid these foods until your mouth has healed.
- Sticky foods – Sticky foods like caramel and taffy require a lot of chewing, and can stick to your implant and the surgical site, increasing the risk of an infection.
Interested In Dental Implants? See If You’re A Good Candidate!
Dental implants are the best way to restore your missing teeth permanently. If you’re interested in replacing one or more missing teeth in Jackson, Hartford, or Germantown, Jackson Family Dentistry is here to help. Contact us online or call at (262) 677-3003 to schedule a consultation today, and to see if implants are right for you.
