Types Of Food To Eat After A Dental Implant Surgery

After any kind of surgery, you need ample rest and the right kinds of food for quick healing and recovery. The aftercare instructions play a significant role in the success of the surgery.

With dental implant surgery, the same applies. A dentist will insist on certain care instructions that are necessary for you to start speedy recovery in your oral cavity. When it comes to eating, there are particular instructions on the right kinds of foods to eat and those to avoid for quick recovery of your implant wound.

What Is Implant Surgery in Dentistry? 

Dental implant surgery is a procedure that involves the installation of a tooth implant in the jawbone. A dental implant near you features a titanium metal post that is drilled into place through a meticulous surgical procedure.

Process of Implant Surgery in Dentistry 

The surgical procedure of installing a tooth implant is different from other restorative processes in dentistry. It details the following steps:

1. Anesthesia – for surgeries, numbing and sedation are necessary for successful treatment. When your mouth is numb and you are properly sedated, you will sit still throughout the implantation surgery.
2. Incision – your dentist in Columbia will make a small cut on your gums at the site of the missing tooth.
3. Drilling – once the jawbone under the gums is exposed, special dental tools will help make a hole for which the tooth implant is placed.
4. Implantation – the small metal post is erected on the drilled hole, replacing the root of your tooth.
5. Sewing and closing – to complete the surgery, the gum tissue is sewn back in place, providing more support to the newly installed metal post.
6. Crowning – soon after the surgery, a temporary crown is placed over the implant to cover it as it heals. Meanwhile, your dentist will work in a dental laboratory to create a well-fitting dental crown for your tooth. In some other cases, dentures or dental bridges are used instead of dental crowns.

Implant Care Instructions After Surgery

Once your surgery is complete, the dentist will give you a couple of guidelines on how to care for your mouth as it heals and recovers. The guidelines will include the kind of medication you should take, how to control bleeding, how to manage oral hygiene, to mention a few. When it comes to the foods you eat, the guidelines are more specific and stricter the first few days after your surgery. The instructions on matters food can be categorized into two:

1. Foods to Eat
   1. Soft foods – including smoothies, creamy soups, and yogurts. This is especially necessary during the first few hours after your treatment. Your dentist will recommend sticking to soft foods until after 6 hours of your treatment when the numbing has totally worn off your oral cavity.
   2. Lots of fluids – this is necessary to avoid dehydration.
   3. Cooked vegetables and fruits – once the 6 hours have passed, you should be able to feel your mouth. At this, you can eat vegetables and fruits. Ensure you do not chew on the side of the implant wound. Still, be sure not to skip meals, as your body needs the strength and nutrients to heal properly.
   4. Maintain a high calorie and high protein intake – this will provide your body with the necessary nutrients to heal quickly. Such foods include ripe bananas, overcooked pasta, fruit juices, foods with ricotta cheese, tofu, to mention a few.
2. Foods and Eating Habits to Avoid
   1. Hot beverages – they will cause sensitivity to your implant wound. Besides, hot drinks like coffees and teas can burn the gum tissue before it has healed probably, therefore, sabotaging the recovery of your implant wound.
   2. Do not smoke or use tobacco substances immediately after surgery.
   3. Do not use straws to take drinks – the air from drinking through a straw will dislodge the blood clot formed on the implant site. Dislodging the clot will cause you to start bleeding again, and slow down the healing process.
   4. Crunchy hard foods – including candies, popcorn, chips, and nuts. They are too abrasive and will threaten the healing of the wound.