If you want to replace missing teeth, dental implants are a beautiful treatment to restore your smile! To protect new implants and for a smoother road to recovery, patients must be mindful of the foods they eat post-surgery.
It is advisable to stay on a soft-food diet for a few weeks after getting dental implants. Certain foods that can cause inflammation or allergic reactions should also be avoided. It is also important to focus on preparing a balanced meal as each food group plays a role in rebuilding the body and fending off infection during the healing process.
Before preparing any meals, consult with a dentist like Prosthodontic Associates to check if there are any forbidden foods. Afterwards, you can start putting together your meal prep list. Try these six yummy recipes for after dental implants:
Soups and broths
During the first week of surgery, patients should be on a strict no-chew diet. This is regardless of whether or not you feel pain. Try to avoid piping hot liquids and drinking from straws, as the suction can irritate or tug on your gum tissues and cause bleeding again.
Dentists highly recommend soups and broths post-surgery. Not only are they easy on the surgical incision, but they are also packed with nutrients to help with recovery and minimize the loss of appetite.
It is advisable to whip up a batch of your favourite soup or broth before your surgery so you can reheat it later and have it over a couple of days.
Cozy up to a bowl of creamy soup made of pureed vegetables such as carrots, potato, pumpkin or squash. Meat or vegetable-based broths are also a great addition to a soft-food diet. They can also easily be stored as a quick meal for another day.
Juices and smoothies
These are a healthy treat to have in your diet because they are nutrient-dense. They also provide a soothing sensation if your mouth is still sore from the surgery.
The flavour profile for juices and smoothies is endless as you can mix any number of fruits and vegetables into your drink. Pour in your favourite milk and protein powder before blending for added nutrition.
Ascertain fruits and vegetables have high sugar content. Remember to thoroughly rinse your mouth after drinking to prevent bacterial growth.
Grains and bread
In the first few weeks post-surgery, you are still recovering, and the dental implant is beginning to settle in your jaw. Patients are advised to continue with their soft-food diet but can include a wider range of food types in their meals.
When reintroducing grains back into your diet, be sure to overcook your ingredients so that minimal chewing is involved. Examples of soft grains include bread, oatmeal, grits, polenta, couscous and pasta.
If you’re looking for something different, prepare a bowl of congee (Asian rice porridge) and add a whisked raw egg towards the end for a protein boost. This hearty meal can be simmered in soup broth and, when cooled down, a great addition to a soft-food diet.
You can include finely diced carrots as well. Just be careful to cook your vegetables down until it is fork-tender.
Fruits and vegetables
Including these into your diet is extremely beneficial for optimal healing. However, patients are advised to select seedless fruits so that they don’t accidentally bite down on something hard and so that seeds don’t get stuck between their teeth. You should also cook vegetables well to soften any texture.
Mashed potatoes is a well-loved dish you can add to your post-surgery diet but can be very carbohydrate-heavy when served on its own. Add in well-cooked beans or lentils and mash them with the potatoes to bulk up the nutritional value.
You can whisk your mashed vegetables to remove hidden lumps for a finer texture. Alternatively, other soft foods you can include in your diet are applesauce, hummus and guacamole.
Great options for soft and seedless fruits are bananas, peaches or pears.
Protein
Getting enough protein in your soft-food diet is essential as it promotes reparatory function after surgery. However, we recommend avoiding meat as chewy textures can be tough on healing.
Ideal soft foods to prepare are crustless quiches, scrambled eggs or lentil stews. Tofu, milk and cottage cheese are other ingredients you can add to your meals for added protein.
Another easy way to sneak in extra protein is through protein powder shakes. These come in various flavours and are absorbed quickly.
Sweet Treats
While it is important to load up on nutrient-dense foods, there’s no harm, including some sweet treats to aid in your road to recovery.
Without question, crunchy, sticky, chewy snacks should not be an option. Patients can, however, have jello, ice cream or yogurt to satisfy their sweet tooth. As always, remember to rinse or brush after.
