What Can I Eat After Dental Implants?

Many of our patients prefer dental implants over other tooth replacement options because of their durability and similarity to the look and feel of natural teeth. However, don’t expect to bounce back immediately after the procedure. You will have to be careful choosing what you eat while healing from dental implant surgery. Here’s what you need to know about eating with dental implants.

The Procedure

At our office, we perform all aspects of the dental implant procedure from implant placement to restoration attachment. In short, the process involves two steps. First, we’ll surgically insert the implant into the jawbone. Once that’s done, the area will need a few months to heal. During that time, the implant will fuse with the jawbone, providing a steady base for the restoration. Once healed, you will come back to our office and the custom-made restoration will be attached.

Eating While You Heal

In the beginning while your mouth heals after implant insertion, there will be some pain, bleeding, swelling, and jaw tightness. That means you won’t be able to jump right back to your normal diet. For the next four to seven days, stick with nutritious soft foods such as soup, smoothies, low-sugar yogurt, macaroni and cheese, mashed sweet potatoes, pureed veggies, bananas, scrambled eggs, etc. Avoid hard and crunchy foods such as chips, pretzels, and popcorn until the area is completely healed. Additionally, do not drink from a straw, consume carbonated beverages, or smoke. After about a week, you will likely feel up to eating normally.

Long-Term Diet

The magic of implants? Once the area is fully healed and the restoration is attached, the fake tooth will feel exactly like a real tooth. This means you won’t have any trouble eating. What’s more, the implant won’t cause issues with your speech, and it’ll look just a normal tooth. You will likely never notice the difference, and neither will anyone else! However, we still recommend maintaining superb oral healthcare habits to protect your other natural teeth and the health of your gums. Healthy gums are essential for the integrity of your dental implant. Brush and floss your teeth every day, daily brush your tongue, stay hydrated with water, and avoid chewing on hard things like jawbreakers, ice, and pencils.

Dental Implants at Hillstream Dental

If you’re missing one or more teeth, this tooth replacement option could give you a smile that looks and feels fantastic. Our expert team can determine whether you’re a good candidate. So if you’d like to learn more about our start-to-finish dental implants, contact us today to schedule a consultation. Contact Us