You’ve finally taken the plunge and gotten your missing tooth replaced with a dental implant. Once you’ve recovered from the procedure, your smile and biting power will be restored to their former glory. However, you have to make sure to follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions to make sure that your implant successfully integrates with your jawbone. That includes avoiding certain foods. Let’s learn about which foods you need to keep away from in order for your dental implants in Duncanville to be successful.
Foods To Avoid After Implant Surgery
The first couple of weeks after your implant surgery are the most critical. You should stay away from any foods that might negatively affect your recovery. These foods include:
- Fruits with hard outsides like apples
- Potato chips
- Steaks or other chewy meats
- Hard taco shells
- Carrots, unless they are shredded into tiny pieces
- Crusty, hard breads
- Ice cubes
For beverages, it’s best to stick to water and avoid any sugary, alcoholic, or acidic drinks. Also, don’t drink through a straw. Doing so can cause a painful condition called dry socket. Drink from a cup instead. In addition, stay away from beverages that are excessively hot or cold, as that may irritate the implant site.
Foods To Eat Instead
Generally, soft foods that are easy to digest are the best thing for you for a couple weeks after implant surgery. Stick to the following:
- Yogurt
- Scrambled eggs
- Oatmeal
- Pasta
- Soup
- Applesauce
- Soft breads
- Protein drinks or shakes with no added sugar
What Else To Expect During Recovery
For the first few days following the surgery, you can expect the following:
- Pain at the implant site
- Swelling of the gums and face
- Bruising of the gums or skin
- Very minor bleeding
You can cut down on swelling or pain by applying a cold compress on and off for 20 minutes at a time, especially for the first couple of days. Make sure to avoid tobacco products, as they may slow down the healing process. If the pain at your implant site doesn’t subside after a few days, be sure to visit your dentist in Duncanville. It could be a sign of an underlying problem.
Dental implants are a great way to fill the gaps in your smile and improve your quality of life. Be sure to stick to the advice in this article to help make your recovery as smooth and easy as possible.