When you replace an entire row of missing teeth with an implant denture, you can look forward to a complete smile that looks great and lets you eat practically anything. With the All-on-4 technique, it only takes four dental implants to support a full denture. Plus, you’ll receive your new teeth on the same day that your implants are placed! However, that doesn’t mean you can chow down on a juicy steak quite yet. You’ll need to be careful about your diet after All-on-4 surgery in West Orange as your smile heals. Here’s a brief guide on what to eat during All-on-4 recovery!
Your Diet for the First Two Weeks After Surgery
For the first week or two after dental implant surgery, you’ll want to stick to a liquid diet. Your mouth will be too sore at first to properly chew, and even after the pain fades, your new teeth won’t quite be ready yet to stand up to chewing pressures. Still, you’ll need to make sure you’re staying hydrated and drinking nutritious fluids to encourage smooth and fast recovery.
Try to drink only cool liquids for the first 48 hours after your surgery. Ideally, you should avoid hot or spicy beverages until at least the fourth day post-op, as they could irritate your still-healing gums.
No matter what you drink, do NOT use a straw for at least three days following your procedure. The sucking force could disturb the blood clots forming over the implant sites, causing pain and complications.
Here are some examples of healthy liquids you can have during the first two weeks after All-on-4 dental implant surgery:
- Water
- Coffee and creamer
- Tea
- Kefir drinks
- Milk
- Yogurt drinks
- Protein shakes
- Ice cream
- Coconut water
- Meal replacement shakes
Two Weeks to Three Months Post-Op
Once two weeks have passed, you’ll be able to transition to a soft food diet. The implants won’t be fully fused with your jaw yet, so you’ll need to avoid chewing anything that could interfere with that process. Refrain from eating anything hard, crunchy, or chewy. Essentially, only eat foods that can be spoon-fed.
During this period, the options you have for your diet are expanded. Some of the foods you can enjoy now include:
- Mashed potatoes
- Applesauce
- Bananas
- Soft breads or muffins
- Cooked pasta
- Oatmeal
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Soft tofu
After three months, your dentist will determine whether your teeth are ready to withstand chewing regular food again. At that point, you can start digging into practically anything you’d like!
When in doubt, ask your dentist if you have any questions about All-on-4 recovery. They’ll be more than happy to guide you on keeping your mouth healthy throughout the healing process. As long as you stick to their directions, you’ll have a confident, complete smile again before you know it!
About the Author
At D & G Dental of West Orange, Dr. Med Dawoud offers start-to-finish dental implant care in one convenient location. He can even provide All-on-4 to help patients enjoy a brand-new set of teeth in a single day. As a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, he’d be more than happy to guide you through the recovery process and ensure you end up with a healthy, reliable smile. To learn more about All-on-4 surgery, contact Dr. Dawoud at (973) 731-2200.