A dental implant is a savior that saves people from their insecurities about tooth loss and offers them a range of benefits. Dental implants help replace a missing tooth and give you a complete smile.
When you lose a tooth, it is crucial to replace it. This is necessary to regain your full smile, maintain your facial structure, and not lose shape. Immediately filling the gap a lost tooth leaves behind can also help prevent the loss of jawbone density.
However, caring for your oral health does not stop at getting dental implants. A complete smile requires complete care to maintain it. Patients with dental implants always ask what to eat and avoid after dental implants.
We are here to provide you with a care guide for your dental implants and how to make them last longer. But first, let’s see what a dental implant is.
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is an artificially created structure that can replace your missing tooth. A screw-like device implanted into your jawbone is an anchor for the artificially created tooth that replaces your missing one.
The artificial tooth is custom-made by your dentist to match the exact texture, shape, and size of your natural teeth. The screw-like device, or abutment, gradually bonds with your jawbone and serves as a strengthened base for your implant.
Dental implants help in restoring the normal functioning of the oral cavity. They are also a permanent and straightforward solution to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are designed to feel like natural teeth and boost self-confidence while preventing bone loss.
Now that we have a better understanding of what dental implants are, let’s move ahead to identify what to eat and avoid after dental implants. It is an important aspect of the post-treatment care.
What to Eat and Avoid After Dental Implants?
Visiting a dentist can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you are looking to replace missing teeth. Add to that taking care of the replacement teeth, and you are in for a proper maintenance trek.
Worry not, as we at Osseo Family Dental provide you with all the what’s and why’s of taking care of dental implants. Read on to know what to eat and avoid after dental implants.
What to Eat After a Dental Implant Surgery
Because the dental implant takes a while to set and affirm its place in your jawbone, you should stick to soft food or a liquid diet in the weeks immediately following the dental implant surgery.
Here are a few suggestions of what to eat after getting your dental implants.
Cold Soups and Broth
Soups and broth are a great source of boosting your immune system. They are loaded with nutrients and can keep you hydrated and filled up for a long time while avoiding the need to chew anything.
They also help in speedy healing. Thinner soups with a broth-like consistency are a better option to go for while recovering from a dental implant surgery.
Soft Fruits
Fruits that are soft and don’t require hard biting, such as bananas, berries, and peaches, are a good choice if you are thinking about what to eat after getting dental implants. You can whip these fruits up into smoothies for easy ingestion or eat them as they are.
Yoghurts
Plain or flavored yogurts are an excellent food choice after dental implant surgery. The coolness of yogurts helps in soothing any dull aches resulting from the implant while eating and provides you with various flavors.
Jell-O
Jell-o is a solid-liquid and easy to chew, swallow and digest. It is an excellent option for people undergoing any recovery process and can help manage dehydration.
Ice Cream
Ice cream is a go-to diet choice for people who have undergone dental procedures; the same applies to dental implant surgery. The cold and soft nature, makes them easy to swallow and acting as a compress for any swelling or dull aches in the implant area.
What to Avoid After Getting Dental Implants
There are some foods that you need to avoid after getting dental implants.
Crunchy Foods
Patients who have recently had dental implant surgery should avoid crunchy foods like cereal and chips, as they can damage the new dental implant.
Spicy Foods
Spicy foods, including hot soups, should be avoided as they can aggravate the area where the dental implant has been inserted. This can cause pain and discomfort. Patients should avoid spicy foods until their oral cavity has healed.
Sticky Foods
Sticky foods like caramels, gummy candies, licorice, chewing gum, Skittles, etc., should be avoided at all costs as they require additional effort in chewing and can stick to your surgical site. This can increase the chances of infection in the affected area.
Hard Foods
Hard foods like tacos, hard candy, popcorn, nuts, lollipops, seeds, etc., are definitely on the list of what to avoid after dental implants as they are difficult to chew. The harder you move your jaw, the higher the risk of your dental implant getting damaged.
Acidic Foods
Acidic foods like condiments, citrus fruits, and high-acid beverages can irritate the surgical site. These are a sure-shot way to develop a bacterial infection on a healing wound. Foods containing acid should be avoided while healing after a dental implant surgery.
Get Your Care Guide to Dental Implants at Osseo Family Dental
We have covered everything you need to know about what to eat and avoid after dental implants. Abide by the guidelines to smoothen the road to a speedy recovery. For all your dental care needs, you can count on Osseo Family Dental.
Osseo Family Dental believes in providing your and your family with the dental care that is seamless and efficient. Our team specializes in all sought-after dental procedures, including dental implant services, general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and root canal and endodontics. We also have an in-house pediatric dentist who can provide responsible dental care for your kids.
You can request an appointment by dropping us your details or emailing us at info@osseofamilydental.com. Visit us and see the difference we can make to your dental health.