Dental implants are typically more resilient and reliable than alternatives, like dentures and dental bridges, because of their unique placement in your jawbone. However, it’s normal to experience swelling and aches in the days following your procedure. Following their post-op orders is the best way to heal quickly while avoiding potential complications.
For example, your provider might recommend avoiding potentially problematic foods that are known to cause problems if you eat them too soon after your procedure. Continue reading to learn more about 3 ingredients to avoid that can cause complications!
Option #1: Raw Fruits & Veggies
Nutritional experts often recommend increasing your intake of fruits and veggies because they contain many essential nutrients needed to support your overall health. However, they can be incredibly difficult to bite into if they’re not cooked or blended. They might even push your dental implant out of place, destabilizing or dislodging it.
As a result, many providers recommend steering clear of hard, crunchy apples, carrots, and other raw ingredients until your teeth, gums, and jawbone have mended sufficiently. But that doesn’t mean you need to avoid these wholesome foods altogether. Applesauce, blended fruit smoothies, and warm (not hot) soups are popular meals during recovery.
Option #2: Sugary, Sticky Sweets
Although these restorations have an incredibly high success rate of more than 90%, that doesn’t mean they’re invincible. You must keep your mouth clean to prevent bacteria from forming plaque or penetrating the surgical site and causing infection.
Unfortunately, sugary snacks attract unwanted germs that increase the likelihood of developing complications, like peri-implantitis, the leading cause of failure. They might also push or pull the titanium rod recently placed in your jawbone, which can lead to aches and possible injuries. It’s best to avoid such sweet treats until the support pole of your new tooth has fused fully with your jawbone.
Option #3: Alcoholic Beverages
If you usually enjoy a glass of wine, beer, or other adult beverage with dinner, you will likely have to abstain for a little while after your procedure. Alcohol can significantly slow the healing process because it suppresses your immune system, rendering your body unable to deliver essential nutrients or infection-fighting cells to your teeth and gums. Plus, it thins your blood, making it harder for your mouth to form a blood clot over the implant site that’s necessary for it to mend.
Following your dental team’s post-op instructions carefully, including any recommended dietary restrictions, helps you recover swiftly while avoiding possible problems to safeguard your smile.
Meet the Author
Dr. Vincent Lam has over 10 years of experience helping families improve their daily lives by enhancing their dental health. He earned his dental doctorate from Temple University in Philadelphia and has since completed advanced training in additional topics, such as CEREC same-day restorations, oral sedation, and dental implant placement. He has the specialized experience and state-of-the-art equipment to perform each step of the process, including oral surgery, in the office for your convenience. You can request an appointment on the website or call (206) 242-4477.