What Foods Can You Eat After Dental Implant Placement?

Submitted by Dr. Samir Ayoub on March 3, 2020 - 9:00 am

Proper post-operative care is very important following any sort of dental surgery. Dental implant placement is a serious medical procedure, so you’ll want to follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions to the letter. As a general rule, you should stick with liquids and soft foods for the first few days — proper nutrition is important, but your mouth needs to heal!

If you’re considering dental implant surgery or have any questions about the procedure, Dr. Ayoub of San Francisco Aesthetic Dentistry has the experience, skills and state-of-the-art technology to help.

Liquids: Avoid Straws!

Depending on the scope of your surgery, a liquid diet may be ideal for the first few days following the procedure. Avoid using a straw for at least a few days — the pressure from using a straw may disrupt the healing process.

Try sticking with:

• Water
• Soup broth (not too hot, as extremely hot liquids may cause inflammation and pain)
• Milkshakes and liquid meal replacements
• Juice, milk and coffee/tea

Soft Foods

A liquid diet might be nutritious, but it might not be particularly satisfying! There is a wide range of soft foods that you are welcome to enjoy after your dental implant placement. These foods include:

• Soft fruits (bananas, mangoes and peaches are great choices)
• Tender pasta (macaroni and cheese is a particular favorite)
• Steamed vegetables, apple sauce and hummus
• Creamy soups (don’t shy away from additives like noodles, beans and other healthy options)
• Protein (think eggs and soft seafood over something like beef)

Broadly speaking, it’s hard to go wrong with a good variety of soups, plenty of water and a suitable amount of steamed vegetables.

Foods to Avoid After Dental Surgery

There are a number of foods you’ll want to avoid after dental implant placement surgery. Eating the wrong type of food after surgery may impact the healing process.

Do your best to avoid:

• Alcohol of all types. Alcohol may interfere with your prescribed medications and irritate the tissue surrounding your dental implants.
• Tough, stringy or chewy foods.
• Food with seeds or food that crumbles easily. Seeds and small bits of crunchy foods may get stuck in the dental implant site and disrupt the healing process.

Questions? Contact Our Office Today!

When it comes to eating after dental implant placement surgery, it’s best to opt for soups, broths and soft sources of protein like eggs. As always, be sure to check with your implant dentist for specific post-operative care instructions.

With more than 40 years of expert restorative and cosmetic dental experience, Dr. Ayoub has the knowledge and skill to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. Please contact our San Francisco office to schedule a consultation today.