Nutrition After Dental Implant Surgery

A nutritious diet following dental implant surgery is an essential part of a fast recovery. It is important that you maintain a diet of soft, nutritious foods to help speed healing, to maintain a feeling of well-being, and to lessen discomfort.

A balanced diet consists of proteins, fruits, vegetables, starches, and healthy fats. Whether eating a liquid diet or a soft diet after surgery, you can balance your meals to ensure you are getting adequate nutrients. Adequate dietary protein will aid in your healing process. Therefore, have protein as part of each meal, for example, in a smoothie, add a protein powder or yogurt.

You may not be hungry or able to chew semi-solid or solid foods due to tenderness and swelling in your mouth, however it is important to get food into your stomach (i.e. most important if you have had IV sedation). Examples of food may include yogurt, apple sauce, jello, and ice cream. Additionally, you should attempt to receive 48 to 64 oz. (6-8 cups) of liquids daily.

For the week following surgery, it is very important to eat well-balanced meals. If you eat enough of the foods your body needs every day, you may heal faster and with less discomfort.

You may find chewing slow, difficult, and uncomfortable. It may be easier for you to eat small meals throughout the day rather than your usual 3 meals. As long as you eat the necessary amounts of food, it is not important when you eat during the day.

In the days immediately following implant surgery, it is recommended that you eat soft food and avoid any hard food products. The following are some suggested foods from the basic food groups that will be suitable for your temporary soft diet

• MILK GROUP (2 or more servings/day)
  • Whole, skim milk
  • Buttermilk
  • Yogurt
  • Cottage cheese
  • Ice cream
• MEAT GROUP (2 or more servings/day)
  • Broiled lean beef
  • Ground, minced, or pureed meat
  • Soft fish (tuna, salmon)
  • Shrimp
  • Scrambled eggs
• VEGETABLES/FRUITS (4 or more servings/day)
  • Stewed, pureed fruits and vegetables
  • Vegetable juices
    • Be careful with fruit juices, as many are acidic and may irritate the surgery site
  • Soup
• BREAD/CEREAL (4 or more servings/day)
  • Hot or cold cereals
  • Cream of wheat
  • Soft bread