One of the biggest advantages of All-on-4 implants is the fact that you can get a beautiful new smile on the same day as your implant placement surgery. However, even with these same-day results, your mouth will need some time to heal. The recovery process will likely require a few changes to your diet. Here’s everything you need to know to prepare your refrigerator before you go into All-on-4 surgery in Chesapeake.
How Will Your Mouth Feel after All-on-4 Surgery?
Your surgery will involve inserting artificial tooth roots into your jawbone beneath the gums. While your dentist will numb your mouth to ensure your comfort, you can likely expect to experience some soreness and swelling after the procedure. Mild pain can be managed by taking over-the-counter or prescription medication as directed by your dentist. Within a few days to a week, you should be feeling much better. Getting plenty of rest and following your dentist’s aftercare instructions will help ensure a smooth All-on-4 recovery in Chesapeake.
Which Foods Should You Avoid?
Hard, sticky, and crunchy foods can be uncomfortable to eat and may increase your risk of post-surgical complications. Avoid snacking on chips, pretzels, nuts, seeds, and taffy. In addition, avoid heavy alcohol consumption, especially if you are taking any prescription pain medication. While one or two alcoholic beverages may be safe after your initial recovery period, drinking too soon could interfere with your body’s healing process.
What to Eat Immediately After Surgery
Your mouth will be the most tender for the first one to two weeks after surgery. During this initial period, you will want to stick to eating soft foods only. Some examples of ideal food and beverage choices during this time include:
- Yogurt
- Pudding
- Broth
- Coffee and tea
- Smoothies
- Protein shakes
- Ice cream (without chocolate chips or other hard pieces)
After the First Few Weeks
After a couple of weeks, you should be able to begin incorporating more soft foods into your diet. In general, any food you can easily cut with the side of a fork is OK to consume during this period. Some examples include:
- Oatmeal
- Scrambled eggs
- Soft bread
- Soft tofu
- Mashed vegetables (potatoes, avocados, cauliflower, etc.)
- Meatloaf
Resuming a Normal Diet
While restricting your diet may not be fun, it’s only temporary and your restored smile will be better off for it. In general, dental implants typically take three to six months to fully integrate with the jawbone. Once this natural process (called osseointegration) is complete, you will be able to resume eating virtually all your favorite foods!
If you are missing most or all of your teeth, ask your dentist if you could benefit from All-on-4 implants.
About the Author
Dr. Lucia Troisi regularly helps restore the smiles of her patients in Chesapeake with dental implants, including All-on-4 implants. The proud NOVA Southeastern University graduate has taken numerous continuing education courses in restorative dentistry to keep up with the field’s changing technologies. For more tips on how to eat and drink after All-on-4 surgery in Chesapeake, visit the Troisi Dentistry website or call (757) 548-1611.