Tender Teeth: 3 Foods to Avoid After Dental Implant Surgery

Many patients and dentists alike consider dental implants the ideal way to rebuild smiles after tooth loss. Unlike dentures or bridges, these replacement teeth are surgically embedded into your jawbone for added strength and stability.

However, you must follow your provider’s post-operative instructions carefully to prevent potential failure following your procedure, including a few dietary restrictions. Continue reading to learn about 3 foods to avoid after implant placement to avert potential complications!

Food #1: Alcoholic Drinks

If you were looking forward to having a cold beer or glass of wine the evening after your surgery, you might end up disappointed. Alcohol is high on the list of things to steer clear of if you hope to recover quickly and without developing side effects.

This is because, in addition to dehydrating your system, this ingredient also suppresses your immune system. It interferes with your body’s white blood cell production, leaving your body unable to fight off infections. This increases the likelihood of developing peri-implantitis, the leading cause of failure.

It’s usually recommended that patients drink plenty of water out of a glass rather than a straw, because the force of suction might dislodge the blood clot that must form at the implant site for it to heal.

Food #2: Raw Fruits or Veggies

It’s normal to experience some soreness and swelling once the support rod for your restoration has been inserted into your jawbone. Most dentists suggest staying away from overly hard or crunchy foods that might further irritate your already tender teeth and tissues, such as raw fruits and vegetables.

Although carrots and apples are usually considered healthy snacks, they can be difficult to bite into during recovery. Not only that, but if you try to eat them anyway, you might accidentally push or pull your new restoration out of place. You can preserve your new tooth by sticking to softer foods at first. Popular options include applesauce, yogurt, blended smoothies, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs.

Food #3: Anything Hot or Spicy

Your dentist might also recommend avoiding overly hot or spicy meals because they tend to cause aches and inflammation at the implant site. You might accidentally hurt yourself if you eat something that hasn’t cooled sufficiently, or get zesty spices trapped in the tissues around the surgical site. Enjoying more bland foods at room temperature is less likely to cause additional aches.

Your dentist might have other recommendations on the care instructions they provide, and following their directions closely is the best way to recover quickly while avoiding potential pitfalls!

Meet the Author

Dr. David Rosenfeld is passionate about helping families in Edison improve their lives by enhancing their smiles. He earned his dental degree from the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery in New York City and was awarded Fellowship status in the International Congress of Oral Implantology. His attention to detail and caring nature are combined with state-of-the-art technology so he can place and restore dental implants in the office. If you need to replace missing teeth, you can request an appointment on the website or by calling (908) 668-7838.