Dr. Mortensen is here blogging today from Andrew G. Mortensen DDS Inc in Fountain Valley, CA to share with patients how important is to eat the right foods after finishing a dental implant procedure and why.
Now, when you were little and your parents told you to brush your teeth twice a day and floss, you most likely did not follow those exact directions your whole life. However, with these instructions that your dentist gives you after the completed dental implant surgery, the fate of their success rests within your hands and your urges. The likeliness of success for every patient is directly contingent upon how well they follow the strict diet instructions throughout the recovery period. We have compiled a two lists of foods that are safe to eat and foods that you should avoid for at least the first six weeks of the healing period. Read below to find out what food can make or break the success of your dental implants.
Eat
Fruits and Vegetables: Melons, berries, bananas, peaches or any other soft fruits, any steamed vegetables, no raw! Vegetable soup if a great idea for patients to the needed nutrients in a very soft and easy- to- eat form.
Grains and starches: very soft breads, oatmeal, cereal, rice, mashed potatoes, and any type of noodles.
Protein: Seafood, eggs, milk, yogurt, beans, cheese and quinoa.
Drink
Water: It is imperative that patients continuously drink water to keep the mouth hydrated and moisturized throughout this process. Patients must avoid drinking any type of alcohol, even mouthwash, during this time to keep the salivary glands healthy and functioning properly. We definitely advise patients away from soda and sugary drinks that can increase the amount of acidic content in the mouth, since it is highly prone to infection throughout this time.
Do NOT Eat
Hard foods: tough meat, nuts, forms of snacks, seeds, chips, and especially hard candy. Any of these substances can scratch or poke against implants and ruin their placement.
Chewy foods: Gummy candies, dried fruit, salad, and especially cookies.
Cold/ hot foods: Any substance that is either too hot or too cold can cause pain in the dental implant areas, foods should be eaten at room temperature for patient to avoid pain.
Generally, we ask our patients to follow this or similar diets for at least 6 weeks after the procedure considering this is the most crucial stage for development and healing. Also, avoid using straws when drinking the water because they can poke or irritate the dental implants and ruin them easily.
Want to learn more? Visit our Dental Implant Info page.
Call us Today to Schedule a Consultation in Fountain Valley, CA
We ask that our patients follow these instructions to keep their success rate high for dental implantation. We would hate for our patients to spend time and money that could be wasted in just one second. Call us today to schedule a dental implant consultation in Fountain Valley, CA at (714) 421-4722