Dental implant surgery in Spokane Valley, Washington, has been transforming smiles and changing lives for many people. You, too, can have a full set of gorgeous teeth if you’re a great candidate for dental implant surgery. Missing teeth is a problem that plagues millions of Americans every year. You’re certainly not alone if you’re missing teeth and looking for solutions!
In just a few visits to your dental implant dentist in Spokane Valley, and with a few months-long commitment to following post-surgery instructions, you can have beautifully straight, white teeth that will not only provide you a stunning smile but will give you your life back. No more hiding missing teeth with your hand when you talk or smile, no more agonizing over meeting new people or going to social events, and no more putting your life on hold while you figure out what to do about missing teeth. A dental implant dentist in Spokane Valley, WA, will first determine if you’re a good candidate for dental implants and then explain the entire process to you.
As with any surgical procedure, the key to success is following your dental implant dentist’s pre- and post-surgery directions to the letter. One of the most important aspects of dental implant surgery is the food you eat following your procedure. There will be certain foods you must avoid, and there will be certain foods you may enjoy.
If you closely follow the post-surgery dental implant diet, you should recover nicely and with no complications. If you, for whatever reason, do not follow the dental implant surgery diet, you may find yourself back at your dentist’s office for some type of revision procedure or, even worse, with infection or damaged dental implants.
Foods to Avoid After Dental Implant Surgery
How soon you eat following dental implant surgery differs from patient to patient, but most dental implant patients find they’re able to eat as soon as they feel hungry. A medication’s effects on a patient will also affect how soon they’re hungry after oral surgery; some may need to wait several hours or even into the next day, while other patients may be hungry soon after arriving home. In the first couple of days following dental implant surgery in Spokane Valley, it’s crucial to avoid any foods that require chewing.
Here are some great suggestions to take in calories while avoiding chewing: smoothies, soups without chunks, broths, meal replacement drinks such as Ensure, protein shakes, fruit smoothies, and approved juices. Juices to avoid are orange juice and grapefruit juice, as they are very acidic and can damage the tooth’s enamel.
Avoid these foods altogether:
- Spicy foods can irritate your incisions
- Alcoholic beverages
- Extremely hot or extremely cold foods
- Sticky foods like gum
- Crunchy foods such as cookies, chips, nuts, crackers
- Sugary/acidic foods such candy, citrus fruit, soda, and tomatoes
Dairy products may cause an inflammatory response in your tissues; dairy has also been known to cause nausea and vomiting. Vomiting will endanger your implants and produce acidity in the mouth. Avoid cow’s milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
Foods to Enjoy as You Heal From Dental Implant Surgery in Spokane Valley
In addition to the non-chunky soups, broths, and smoothies mentioned above, you are encouraged to eat the following foods following dental implant surgery:
- Oatmeal topped with blueberries or peanut butter is not only tasty but extremely nutritious
- Scrambled eggs provide a lot of great protein and are super easy to eat
- Baked or mashed sweet potatoes (minus the milk and butter) are not only tasty but provide much-needed Vitamin C, essential for gum health
- Kale and spinach are extremely easy to chew and are rich in vitamins and minerals
- Moist, tender meat like baked chicken breast or ground turkey are great sources of protein that are easy to chew. But don’t eat this too soon after surgery. Allow a few days time for anything that requires chewing.
What to Eat Following Dental Implant Surgery in Spokane Valley, WA
If you had dental implant surgery at Collins Dentistry & Aesthetics, please don’t hesitate to call (509) 927-2273 with any questions about your post-dental implant surgery diet. If you’re a new patient with questions about dental implant surgery or the cost of dental implants, please fill out our online contact form, and one of our dental team members will reach out shortly.
