What to Eat After Dental Implant Surgery

The first few weeks after surgery are crucial to the health of your dental implant. This is when osseointegration, the process of your implant fusing with your jawbone, occurs. At this point, major disturbances such as chewing hard foods can still dislodge the implant and ruin your treatment. That’s why we recommend a diet of soft, nutrient-rich foods after implant surgery.

Explore our guide to help you make smart eating decisions while your dental implant heals.

What to Eat the Day After Implant Surgery

When you first leave our office, your teeth and jaw will need some time to recover. For these first 24 hours after surgery, we recommend sticking to liquids and very soft foods that don’t require chewing. Some of your options include:

• Smoothies — Smoothies are an ideal option after surgery. They’re filling, nutritious, and help to maintain balance in your body with essential vitamins.
• Applesauce — You won’t be able to eat apples at this point, but applesauce is a healthy and delicious snack that you can enjoy without hurting your implant.
• Chilled Soups — While it’s important to avoid hot foods and liquids immediately after surgery, you can enjoy cold soups such as gazpacho or cucumber soup.

When you’re drinking liquids, it’s extremely important that you don’t use a straw. The suction effect of using a straw can strain your implant and interfere with the healing process.

What to Eat in the Weeks After Implant Surgery

As your mouth continues to heal, you’ll be able to slowly reintroduce solid foods into your diet. Try to choose foods that are rich in protein and nutrients to speed up your recovery. Some good choices include:

• Eggs/Omelets — Eggs are a rare food that’s filled with protein and healthy fats but doesn’t put strain on your teeth. Omelets are an especially great option because you can incorporate vegetables for a nutrient-rich, well-balanced meal.
• Chicken, Fish, and Ground Beef — When you first introduce meat back into your diet, start with softer meats that are finely chopped. You can mix chopped or ground meats into pastas, salads, casseroles, and more for a delicious and filling meal.
• Potatoes — If you start to get bored with limited food options, potatoes are a great tool for mixing things up. There are several different ways you can cook potatoes to make them flavorful while still retaining their soft texture.
• Soft Dairy Products — Dairy is rich in calcium and protein that helps keep your teeth strong. Milk, yogurt, and soft cheeses are excellent snacks while you’re still healing from surgery.

There are several other foods you can enjoy after implant surgery in addition to the ones listed above. If you’re running out of ideas for soft foods, ask Dr. Grubb or a member of our team for recommendations.

What Not to Eat After Implant Surgery

After Dr. Grubb places your implants, it’s important to avoid the following foods for at least a few weeks:

• Very hot foods and liquids, such as hot soup and coffee
• Tough foods, such as steak and beef jerky
• Spicy foods, such as hot peppers and salsa
• Acidic foods, such as oranges and tomatoes
• Crunchy foods, such as popcorn and chips
• Sticky foods, such as caramel and gummies  
• Chewy foods, such as hard bread and bagels

Visit Dr. Grubb for Dental Implants

If you have one or more missing teeth, Dr. Grubb can restore your smile with natural-looking dental implants. Our implants are custom-made to blend in with your smile and they can last a lifetime with proper care. Contact our office in Havre de Grace today and schedule a consultation — it’s your first step to a healthy and beautiful smile.