After you get your dental implants placed, you might be excited about having a full smile once again. You will be able to enjoy a wide range of foods with up to 90% of your original bite force back. However, before you start digging into everything, you will need time to heal and for the post to fuse to your jawbone. Until then, certain items you eat can cause complications if you aren’t careful. Here’s what you should avoid as you recover.
1.) Tough Items
A favorite dish of yours might be a juicy steak or pork chop, but tough cuts of meat and other similar items can cause trouble. They take a long time to chew, meaning they can strain your jaw and be uncomfortable to fully enjoy! Simply choose softer items, or you can tenderize and cut choices like these into smaller pieces.
2.) Crunchy Snacks
Throughout the day, you might like a crunchy snack to get you to your next mealtime. However, chips and the like can break off into sharp points. They can injure your healing gums if you aren’t careful. A stronger bite is also needed, which can put too much pressure on your implant. Great alternatives are fruits like ripe peaches and bananas.
3.) Sticky Treats
You might enjoy taffy, caramel, or gummies as a quick pick-me-up, but they can get stuck on your grin and pull at your tooth replacement. Since they cling to your teeth, they can also increase your risk of oral health issues! The good news is that there are plenty of other sweet options to enjoy. Pudding, ice cream, yogurt, and applesauce can be better to have instead.
4.) Spicy Foods
A spicy kick to your food can make it more fun to eat, but it’s important you keep it mild or mellow. This type of heat can irritate the soft tissues in your mouth, making them inflamed. This can be especially uncomfortable after you get your implants placed, since your gums are already sore.
5.) Generally Hot Options
If you love your meals to be steaming, then it’s best to wait for them to cool down. When they are too hot, they increase blood flow in your mouth. You may end up bleeding more around the implant and increase swelling. Burning yourself is another possibility, so keep it lukewarm to avoid trouble.
The good news is that you can start to reintroduce items into your diet as you recover and the implant fuses to your jawbone. Listen to your body and recognize when things are causing discomfort. Hold off on them; that way, you can get toward your full smile without any complications.
About the Author
Dr. Brian Lavery earned his dental degree from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. He has taken thousands of hours of continuing education and has begun to focus more on dental implants. He is proud to offer the entire process in-house, meaning you stay in his expert care every step of the way while helping you keep it strong for decades to come. If you want more tips on your recovery after placement surgery, schedule an appointment or call Dr. Lavery’s office at (609) 588-5600.