Eating After Getting Dental Implants? Learn What You Can & Cannot Eat

If you have recently had dental implants from the best dentist in NYC, you may be wondering what you can and cannot eat. While you do need to be careful with hard or chewy foods, there are plenty of other options available to you. In this blog post, we will go over some of the best foods to eat after getting dental implants. Whether you are looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack, we have got you covered. So read on and find out what your new dietary restrictions are (or aren’t).

Dental Implants

Dental implants act as anchors for artificial teeth such as crowns and bridges, and provide a stronger, more permanent foundation for them. Dental implants can easily bridge gaps in between teeth, create natural looking smiles and are virtually indistinguishable from real teeth. They also provide strong support for dentures and help improve speech articulation. They save existing teeth by eliminating the need for grinding or cutting down additional healthy teeth in order to facilitate a bridge or denture placement. 

Wait Until the Anesthesia Wears Off

After undergoing a dental care implant, waiting for the anesthesia to wear off before eating or drinking anything is very important. Eating or drinking too soon after an implant can cause unintended damage to the newly placed implant and result in increased pain and discomfort. Furthermore, food and drinks with high temperatures or high acidic levels can potentially cause damage to the surrounding areas of the implant before it has had sufficient time to heal properly. So be sure to wait until after all the routine discomforts of anesthesia have gone away before picking up your favourite snack or beverage.

Avoid Crunchy or Sticky Foods for a Day

After undergoing a dental implant, it is important to give your mouth adequate recovery time by avoiding certain foods for at least 24 hours. Specifically, avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods so the implant can successfully bond to the existing tooth root and settle without any hiccups. While you may feel tempted to chow down on your favorite crunchy snacks or a caramel candy bar, it’s best to stick with a diet of soft foods such as fruits (banana or soft applesauce), yogurt, eggs (like scrambled or boiled), and cooked vegetables as these will be easier on your teeth while they settle into their new home.

Eat Soft Foods

After a dental implant, sticking to soft foods is key. It’s important to avoid crunchy or hard-to-chew items that could disrupt the healing process. Ice cream and applesauce offer delicious options for small snacks, while soup, mashed potatoes, yogurt, oatmeal and scrambled eggs provide nourishment at mealtime. Be sure to consume liquid with your meals as it will help keep the implant area clean and free of food particles that can cause infection. If a craving strikes for crunchier fare such as chips or toast, try dipping these into a soup or run them through the blender first to get them softer.

Avoid Chewing on the Implant Side

After getting a dental implant, it is important to be mindful of what and how you are chewing your food. For the first week, you should avoid putting strain on the implant site by not directly chewing anything in that area. Instead, chew with your other teeth so your implant has time to heal. Soft and easily-chewed food is recommended during this period, such as mashed potatoes or applesauce. You should also stay away from hard items such as nuts or hard candy to ensure no additional stress is put on the site. Taking these precautions will help keep your implant healthy and ensure good oral health for many years to come!

After a few days you can slowly start incorporating other foods back into your diet

After a few days of limited options, you can start to get excited about your newfound freedom! With dental implants, you can gradually increase the variety and complexity of foods in your diet. It’s important to take it slow though – avoid crunchy or hard foods such as apples, carrots or any chewy foods for the first few weeks. Also be wary of sugary goodies – bacteria may build up around your implant if you eat anything too sugary. But don’t worry, within 6 months you should be feeling optimistic about eating whatever you desire.

Be sure to brush and floss regularly to keep your implant clean and healthy

Brushing and flossing daily after a dental implant is essential for keeping the implant clean and healthy. This is especially important during the first weeks of healing, as this is when bacteria can infiltrate the area. It’s necessary to take extra care when brushing around the implant and to floss between teeth in order to remove any food particles or plaque build-up. To further protect your dental implant, it’s also recommended to avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods that can loosen a bridge or dislodge a crown after an implant, as well as skip overly hot or cold foods. With proper oral hygiene and care you’ll be able to enjoy many years of improved dental health with your dental implants!

Conclusion

After having a dental implant procedure from the best dentist NYC, it is important to take the necessary steps to ensure that the implant heals properly and remains healthy. Eating soft foods in the beginning with small portions served frequently is the best way to relieve pressure on the implant site and keep it from becoming too irritated. After 24 hours have passed, slowly start introducing other items into your diet that are easy on the teeth, such as cooked fruits and vegetables, fish, burgers without a bun, and pancakes. Be sure to continue brushing and flossing regularly in order to keep food particles away from the implant site. Following these instructions will help lead you to successful healing after a dental implant procedure!