Life After Dental Implant Surgery – 5 Nutritious Foods To Enjoy Right Away

Eating nutritious food has a positive impact on our overall health. It’s true! Research suggests that people who adopt a balanced diet feel physically and mentally better than those who don’t. Unfortunately, for many people, a nutrient-rich diet isn’t always easy to follow when you have missing teeth, where mealtimes can sometimes feel like a chore.

Thankfully, implant-based restorations are designed to restore chewing ability, giving you back full control of your eating habits.

That said, it isn’t always possible to chow down on your favourite foods in the coming weeks after dental implant surgery, and this is why a softer food diet is necessary. The question is, can you still adopt a healthy and nutritious eating regimen in the days and weeks after an oral procedure like dental implant placement?

The good news is that it doesn’t all have to be about jello and ice cream. Instead, here are five nutritious foods you can enjoy from the get-go.

Steamed vegetables

Steamed vegetables like broccoli, kale, and asparagus are a great way to get some of those all-important vitamins and minerals inside you. They’re an ideal source of potassium, Vit B and iron. Most supermarkets sell steam-in-the-bag vegetables which can easily be microwaved. Alongside your ‘5-a-day’ you might want to serve soft rice or well-cooked pasta. You can also adorn your veggies with a healthy dressing or low-fat cheese so they go down easier.  

Soups

Soups are an ideal and versatile way of packing vitamins, minerals and proteins into a tasty and satisfying meal and are the perfect food to eat after dental implant surgery. Be sure to avoid anything spicy or crunchy, particularly toppings like croutons, and remember to serve it warm not piping hot. If it’s a hot summer’s day, why not try a cold soup like gazpacho or chilled avocado to tickle those tastebuds, but again, ensure it isn’t served ice cold. Why? Because extremes of temperature (hot and cold) can be problematic for newly placed dental implants.

Risotto

Another food that is good to eat after dental implant surgery is risotto. This lovely bowl of creaminess can be pimped up with your favourite veggies or protein for a nutritious meal. Just ensure that it’s cooked well down so you don’t need to chew it. Experiment using mushrooms, asparagus and even pureed pumpkin, as they all work exceptionally well in this comforting dish. Add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and a dollop of crème fraiche for extra richness. Yum!

Fish

If you’re a lover of fish then you won’t be disappointed because it’s one of the best proteins you can have after undergoing oral surgery. Oily fish like salmon and mackerel fillets contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals including Vit D, Vit B and Vit E, as well as omega 3; while soft flaky white fish such as cod contains Vit B12 and niacin, a vital mineral used to turn food into energy. Ensure that the fish is well-cooked and bone free, and you should also avoid anything battered or breaded as this makes the fish crunchy. Remember, crunching is something you don’t want to be doing in the few days or weeks after dental implant surgery. Oh, and don’t forget to remove any skin!

Eggs

Eggs are an ideal source of protein after oral surgery but not only that, they’re speedy to cook and versatile too! They’re great scrambled, poached, boiled or baked, and are especially good in an omelette. Try baking eggs with spinach and ricotta, or scramble eggs with basil and crème fraiche. Alternatively try poaching them and topping with pesto or cracking several into a spinach shakshuka, garnished with soft feta cheese. Trust us, you won’t feel like you’re on a post-implant diet when you can eat like this.

So, there you have it.  

We’ve talked about five of the most healthy soft foods that you can eat after dental implant surgery, but what about if you have a penchant or craving for something sweet?

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten you.

Fruit smoothies are a great source of vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants so go to town on your fruit intake and puree it up with some yogurt or milk.

A good smoothie can be a great source of satisfaction, as well as being a meal in itself. Remember though to avoid drinking your smoothie through a straw because the sucking action can pose a threat to any protective blood clots that form over the implant site.

If you are considering dental implant surgery to restore your smile, then it’s good to know that you don’t need to live on pureed food or bowls of ice cream until your implants have fully stabilized in the jaw. Instead, as long as you stick to the rules, you can still eat healthy nutrition-rich foods, even when you’re in that all-important recovery phase.

Want to know more about how dental implants can help you?

Book a free consultation with Dr Akinwande at Chesterfield Dentistry here in St Louis where you can get all your questions and concerns answered, allowing you to make a fully informed decision.

Call 314 936 3621 or schedule an appointment online.    

Photo attribution: image by stocking on Freepik