What To Eat After Dental Implant Surgery – Our Tips & Guidelines

After you get dental implant surgery in Mandeville, you’ll want to eat a diet of mostly soft foods for at least a week after your treatment, and some patients may want to continue eating soft foods for up to 2 weeks. 

Dr. Charles Schof will provide you with a comprehensive set of recovery instructions after your procedure, but if you’re wondering what kinds of foods you should eat and which foods you should avoid, you’re in the right place. Read on for more information. 

You Should Eat Soft Foods That Don’t Require A Lot Of Chewing 

Pretty much any food that’s soft, does not require a lot of chewing, and is not extremely spicy or hard to eat will be a good choice for your meals. You will want to have plenty of options so that you don’t miss meals and can get the nutrition you need to heal. 

Immediately after your surgery for about 6-12 hours, you should only eat liquid or very soft foods. This ensures that you don’t chew on your mouth or bite your tongue, which is a common issue after surgery. Good foods to eat include:

• Smoothies
• Yogurt
• Ice cream
• Pudding
• Applesauce
• Mashed potatoes
• Creamy soups
• Broth
  

After your numbing wears off, you can eat foods that require a bit more chewing. When possible, try to chew on the opposite side of your mouth from your surgical site. Good foods to introduce at this time include:

• Pancakes
• Macaroni and cheese
• Eggs
• Pasta
• Cooked vegetables 
• Rice
  

You will need to keep eating these foods for about a week, then you may be able to start introducing more tough, chewy foods into your diet.

It’s also important to stay properly hydrated. You may have trouble eating a lot of food for the first few days after your surgery, so make sure to increase your fluid intake to stay hydrated and help promote feelings of satiety (fullness). 

Avoid Tough, Hard, Chewy, Spicy, And Sticky/Gummy Foods

During your first 1-2 weeks of recovery, you should avoid:

• Tough foods like steak and jerky
• Hard foods like crispy, fresh vegetables or fruit
• Chewy foods like bagels 
• Spicy foods with lots of hot peppers
• Sticky and gummy foods (particularly with high sugar content like taffy, caramel, etc.)
  

Once your mouth has fully healed and Dr. Schof has given you the OK to do so, you can start eating these foods again. But it’s better to be safe than sorry, so avoid these foods and similar foods as much as you can until your mouth has recovered completely from dental implant surgery.

Interested In Dental Implants In Mandeville? Contact Us Today! 

At the Mandeville Center for Dental Excellence, Dr. Charles Schof specializes in dental implants in Mandeville. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of dental implants and are wondering if you’re a good candidate, don’t wait. Contact us online or give us a call at (985) 626-4401 to get started.