Foods to Avoid After Dental Implant Surgery

The first 1-2 weeks post-surgery is a critical time in the healing process, requiring extra care to ensure you don’t experience any setbacks.

Foods That May Negatively Impact the Healing Process

Tough Foods: These can put undue torque and pressure on still-healing posts that have not yet completely fused to create a solid anchor point. Examples include raw veggies, steak and pork tenderloins.

Crunchy or Hard Foods: These can put additional strain on your implants before they are ready to handle such force. Examples include apples, chips, hard taco shells, popcorn, raw carrots or other snappy veggies, ice cubes and hard candies.

Sticky or Gummy Foods: These can cause a pulling tension on your new prosthetic teeth, as well as get stuck along the gum line, causing inflammation and potentially contributing to infection. Examples include gum, taffy, chewy dough, caramel, and peanut butter sandwiches.

Chewy Foods: Simply put, these require too much work for your jaw and newly minted pearly whites to handle right after surgery. Examples include chewy bread, bagels, and gummies.

Spicy Foods: Spicy foods can cause unnecessary irritation to the gums during this period. Examples include salsa, spices, and hot peppers.

Acidic Foods: Similar to spicy foods, acidic foods can aggravate and inflame the gums. Examples of foods to avoid include tomatoes and citrus fruits.

Extreme Hot or Cold Foods and Liquids: Post-surgery, your gums and jaw may be sensitive to extreme temperatures such as hot or cold beverages or foods. Examples include ice, ice cream, popsicles, hot tea and hot coffee.

Alcoholic Beverages: Alcohol can cause localized and systemic inflammation, as well as damper the healing process and your immune system.

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How Dental Implants Can Prevent An Aged Appearance

This period is a delicate one. The day after your procedure your jaw and gums will likely be a bit swollen and sore. 

The following are Recommended During this Time:

• Blended smoothies – healthy, nutritious, and require zero chewing
• Applesauce
• Yogurt
• Cold soup (room temp or slightly warm)
• Meal replacement shakes

TIP: Avoid using a straw with any of the above. 

Dentures and Face Collapse: a lesser-known downside

As the healing process progresses, you will be able to slowly re-introduce solid foods into your diet. Softer solid foods high in protein and essential nutrients provide needed fuel to assist with healing.

Protein is an essential building block necessary for tissue repair. Ensuring you meet your daily protein requirement is a good way to help the healing process along.

Good Options Include:

• Eggs 
• Potatoes
• Ground beef
• Fish
• Shredded meats (such as pulled pork or chicken)
• Milk
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Oatmeal 
• Whole-grain bread
• Beans
• Tofu

Foods that Over Time Can Damage Dental Implants

We certainly aren’t here to tell you how to live your life. But we also care about helping you get the most from your investment. Dental implants are strong and durable, but not impervious to damage.

We Suggest Minimizing:

• Acidic foods and beverages
• Alcohol use
• Snuff or chewing tobacco
• Strongly colored beverages to avoid staining (coffee, tea, beet juice)
• Strongly colored foods (mustard, beets, etc.)
• Sugary foods

What if You Don’t Have an Appetite After Your Procedure?

Directly after surgery, it is common for patients to have a lack of appetite. Soreness, being uncomfortable, stress, mild swelling, and even the anesthesia sued may play a role in your lack of hunger.
You may also be nervous about it hurting when you eat. However, any pain or discomfort experienced should be minimal if you follow the tips in this guide. Remember, it is important to give you body the nutrients it needs to heal.

Look and Feel Your Best With a Smile you Can Be Proud Of

At Nuvia Dental Implant Center we are committed to helping our patients get the information and resources they need to make the right decisions about their (or their family’s) oral health.

Many individuals considering implants have questions or concerns about how it might impact their daily lives (including their diet). We hope you found this guide helpful, but remember, we’re always here to fill in any blanks you may have.
Call or message today for a consultation, and to find out why so many patients trust us to give them the smile they deserve.