Missing an entire arch of teeth can make some tasks feel impossible. This includes anything from chewing your food to speaking clearly to smiling without feeling self-conscious. Fortunately, if you have suffered from extensive tooth loss, all-on-4 dental implants could be the solution that you’ve been looking for to restore a whole arch of missing teeth. If you have your dental implant placement procedure coming up, it pays to be prepared. Here’s what you should know about eating and drinking during the recovery period.
Directly After Your Surgery
Immediately after your all-on-4 dental implant placement procedure, you should be especially careful when it comes to eating. You want to give the area a chance to heal so you can give your implants the best possible chance at success. Up to a few weeks, you could experience some soreness in your mouth, jaw, and throat, so you should stick to a liquid/very soft diet. Here are some foods that you may want to stock up on:
- Beef, chicken, or vegetable broth
- Pureed vegetable or cream-based soups
- Milkshakes
- Meal replacement shakes
- Ice cream
- Frozen yogurt
2 Weeks to 3 Months After Your Surgery
Once the immediate healing period is complete, you can transition to soft foods. Because your jaw is still healing and your implants are fusing to the jawbone, it’s important that you aren’t applying too much pressure to the implants. You should avoid any foods that are hard, chewy, or crunchy. Here are some items you can enjoy:
- Scrambled eggs
- Soft cheeses
- Sloppy joe meat
- Chili
- Hummus
- Tofu
- Soft breads
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Oatmeal
- Mashed potatoes
3 Tips to Assist Your All-on-4 Recovery Period
Here are some tips to help you recover more smoothly after your procedure:
- Invest in a good blender or food processor. During your first few weeks of recovery, you can enjoy additional foods and flavors if you have an easy way to blend foods into a consistency that won’t aggravate the healing site.
- Plan ahead of time. By making a list and shopping beforehand, you can stock up on everything you need to stay comfortable during your time of healing.
- Get plenty of rest. By getting plenty of quality sleep, it will be easier for your body to get back to its normal self.
For any additional advice during your all-on-4 recovery period, don’t hesitate to ask your oral surgeon. By being patient and taking precautions as you heal, you will be showing off your beautiful, complete smile in no time!
About the Author
Dr. Sheng Ji earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of California, San Francisco, graduating at the top of his class. He then furthered his education by pursuing a medical degree, graduating from the University of Texas Southwestern. Dr. Ji completed his specialty training in Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, making him highly qualified to perform a wide range of procedures, including IV sedation and dental implant placement. To learn more about all-on-4 dental implants or to schedule a consultation at his office in Carmichael, visit his website or call (916) 961-1902.