Once your dental implant has been placed, you’ll have to limit your diet to soft foods for at least a few days while your surgical site heals. Though this may seem inconvenient, it’s crucial not to disturb your surgical site during the osseointegration phase if you want your new smile to succeed.
Additionally, there are more than enough delicious foods you can continue to enjoy while your implant heals. Explore our guide to learn about 6 foods that are safe to eat after implant surgery.
Soft Dairy Products
Dairy products are often a good choice during your recovery because of their soft texture. Foods like yogurt or macaroni and cheese are easy on your implant site while providing you with high levels of calcium.
Calcium is a valuable mineral that helps to keep your bones strong and healthy. A dense jawbone increases the likelihood that your implant will succeed. That’s why dentists like Dr. Eric Herman in Vincennes, IN recommend a diet rich in calcium while you recover from dental implant surgery.
Potatoes
Potatoes are extremely versatile and can be prepared in many different ways, helping to add some variety to your post-surgery diet. Whether you boil them, bake them, mash them, or fry them, potatoes are easy to chew and can be enjoyed with a variety of toppings and seasonings.
Potatoes are a good source of vitamin C and they can be very filling, allowing you to maximize your mealtimes.
Soups
Soup is a great meal choice for your recovery period since it requires no chewing at all. There are many different varieties of soup, most of which are packed with nutrients and can easily be enjoyed as a full meal.
To avoid harming your implant, it’s crucial to stay away from soups that are very hot. Dr. Peter Troyan, an implant dentist in Hoffman Estates, IL, recommends chilled soups such as gazpacho. Or, you can simply wait for your hot soup to reach a lukewarm temperature before enjoying it.
Oatmeal
Breakfast can be an especially challenging meal after implant surgery. Popular choices like toast, bagels, cereal, and waffles are all crunchy and require heavy chewing. Though you’ll have to eat it cold or lukewarm, oatmeal is a nutritious breakfast option that’s easy on your implant.
Be wary of any additives to your oatmeal, such as fruit or granola, as they could potentially damage your implant.
Eggs
Eggs are an excellent source of protein that can be a tasty and nutritious part of any meal, not just breakfast. Since they can be cooked in several different ways, eggs can also help to keep your meals from getting too repetitive or boring.
For a delicious meal that’s easy on your surgical site, cook your eggs into an omelette and add some melted cheese.
Smoothies
By limiting yourself to soft foods, you may find it difficult to maintain a healthy diet. Most fruits and vegetables are too crunchy or chewy for your implant site to handle, making it difficult to fit them into your meals.
That’s why dentists like Dr. Brian Klym recommend incorporating smoothies into your post-surgery diet. By blending them into a liquid, you can safely consume all the fruits and vegetables you need to stay healthy and well-nourished.
Protect Your Implant After Surgery
If you’ve recently undergone dental implant surgery, it’s crucial that you follow all of your dentist’s instructions if you want your new smile to last. To prevent setting your treatment back, stick to a diet of soft and liquid foods for at least a few days after your surgery.
Once your dentist determines you’re ready, you can resume your normal diet and eat without restrictions.