Dentist with hands out, translucent tooth in her hands, blue background with bright lights

Foods to Avoid After Your Dental Implant Procedure

After even minor trips to the dentist for routine check-ups, you may be instructed to avoid eating to ensure that your treatment is as effective as possible. With more serious procedures, you may be instructed to not eat for a short period of time and then to only eat very soft or liquid foods for up to 7 days following treatment. This standard is important to maintaining the dental implants you’ve just received, as any deviation from the soft food diet could result in a malfunctioning implant.

For more information on dental implants in Los Angeles, get in touch with Dr. Kao today.

Details About the Dental Implant Procedure

When you receive dental implants, your original, damaged teeth are removed and replaced with new versions. Each implant is unique for individual patients, as they can vary not only in size and shape, but also in coloring and material. Dental implants are more desirable than dentures, as the teeth are replaced with replicas that are permanent, as opposed to dentures which are removable and must be washed daily. This is a more desirable options for many patients, as implants look, feel and perform like natural teeth.

During your implant procedure, Dr. Kao will begin by preparing the implant site. He will ensure that the area is fully capable of receiving a new implant and that the placement will be flawless. Once the site is prepped, he will carefully and skillfully insert the dental implant and seal the area for permanent hold and optimal performance. When your procedure has ended, Dr. Kao may prescribe antibiotics and will instruct you to stay away from hard or crunchy foods for a least three days. To avoid any complications, we’ve compiled an informative list of foods to avoid after your dental implant procedure. Get your beautiful smile back when you contact Dr. Kao’s office today to schedule your dental implants in Los Angeles!

Diet After Dental Implants

The most difficult foods to stay away from following a dental procedure are hard foods that are eaten daily. Things like crunchy vegetables, chips and sandwiches are delicious meals, but dangerous with new implants. Try to get your daily vegetable count in with a can of vegetable soup instead. The cooking of the vegetables will soften them, but you’ll still get a full and healthy meal without damaging your implants. Soup in general is a healthy and delicious option to utilize during your soft foods diet, and it will help you stay away from eating crunchier vegetables that could negatively affect your new implants.

Fruit should also be avoided as much as possible while recovering from dental implant surgery. Items such as apples, peaches, oranges and pears can be too hard for your new implants, or, they can become stuck in between teeth which requires flossing. If this happens near the implant site too soon after surgery, it may damage how the tooth bonds to your mouth. If your implant is only on one side of your mouth, or it is positioned in the front of your mouth, soft fruit such as berries and cut up watermelon can be consumed carefully. If you don’t want to risk it at all, opt for a smoothie. This will allow you to keep up your daily fruit intake and keep your dental implants intact.

For dessert, try to stay away from cookies, even if they’re the soft variety from the grocery store. Don’t eat any version of ice cream that contains nuts or a candy shell, as this could alter the effectiveness of your new implant. If you are craving something sweet, reach for plain ice cream out of the carton, as this is extremely soft and will not do any harm to new and settling implants.

Schedule your first appointment for quality dental implants in Los Angeles today when you call Dr. Kao’s office now!