Whether you’ve already gotten your dental implants or you’re about to schedule a consultation for dental implants in Northampton with Dr. Aurora Fields, you may be wondering what the recovery process is like. What can you eat after surgery, and are there any foods or drinks that you should avoid? We’ll give you all the details you need in this blog from Refresh Valley Dental.
What To Expect After Surgery And As You Recover
After your surgery, you will feel some pain and discomfort for a few days, and your implant site may bleed for a little while. Dr. Aurora will give you a full list of instructions to follow as you heal and recover. You’ll need to take special steps to clean your teeth, eat the right foods, and avoid certain things like smoking or spitting. However, you can usually get back to work and your daily routine after just a day or two.
Your implant site will feel significantly better after about a week, and will be almost completely healed after two weeks. You’ll usually come in for a follow-up appointment at our office after two weeks, so that Dr. Aurora can make sure everything looks good.
What To Eat After Surgery – Food And Drinks That Are Safe
In general, you want to stick to a diet of liquid or very soft foods for 1-2 weeks after your procedure. Soft foods won’t cause discomfort near your implant site, require little effort to chew, and also won’t leave behind bits of food that may cause irritation or even the infection of your implant site. A few great foods to eat right for your first week after treatment include:
- Yogurt
- Soft scrambled eggs
- Mashed potatoes
- Creamy soups and broths
- Ice cream
- Pudding
- Applesauce
- Milkshakes
After about a week, you can start eating some slightly firmer foods, including:
- Pasta
- Macaroni
- Rice
- Pancakes
- Cooked vegetables
- Soft bread or buns
As far as drinks go, most things are fair game, though we recommend avoiding really hot or cold drinks, since they can irritate your implant site and cause sensitivity.
What NOT To Eat After Surgery – Food And Drinks To Avoid
In general, you want to avoid eating really tough and chewy foods, as well as crunchy or hard foods and chewy foods. Tough and chewy foods are hard to chew with a new implant, and crunchy or hard foods can leave behind shards of food and damage your implant site. A few examples of foods you should avoid include:
- Steak
- Crunchy vegetables
- Chips, pretzels, and crackers
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Hard candy
- Caramels
- Taffy
You can start introducing these foods back into your diet around two weeks after your surgery. You also should avoid carbonated beverages and alcohol for at least 2-3 days after your appointment.
Other Aftercare Tips – Care For Your Smile After Surgery!
Dr. Aurora will give you a full list of instructions to follow as you recover, but here are a few quick tips that you can keep in mind while you’re healing after surgery:
- Avoid spitting or using a straw for 48 hours so that you don’t dislodge your blood clot
- Don’t smoke for at least 72 hours, and consider quitting smoking if possible, since it can interfere with healing
- Don’t exercise heavily for at least a few days after your surgery
- Rinse the area with salt water for 2-3 days after surgery, then brush it gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and encourage healing
INTERESTED IN DENTAL IMPLANTS IN NORTHAMPTON, MA? CONTACT US TODAY!
At Refresh Valley Dental, Dr. Aurora specializes in implant dentistry in Northampton, MA. If you’re interested in a permanent solution for missing teeth, our team is here to help. Contact us online or give us a call to learn more, explore your options for tooth replacement, and see if dental implants are right for you.