Dental implants are a popular choice for tooth replacement because they are one of the most natural looking options out there. With these implants from Alsbury Dental, you can enjoy everything from your favourite meals to kissing without worrying about your teeth. However, there are foods you should stay away from to keep your new teeth healthy for as long as possible.
Foods To Avoid After A Dental Implant
Meat
You should stay away from any meat that is cooked rare or medium-rare to prevent bacteria from getting into your mouth. If you do eat something like this, be sure to clean up immediately so that the food does not get on the dental implant and potentially cause an infection.
Dairy Products
Dairy products can also introduce bacteria into your mouth and it is best to stay away from anything with milk in it. But, if you have a craving for cheese, go for something hard like cheddar or gouda instead of melted cheese on a pizza.
Crunchy Foods
These types of foods are the worst for dental implants because they can damage your new tooth and lead to an infection.
Coffee
Coffee is not recommended because it may cause saliva dryness which has been known to make people more susceptible to tooth decay.
Ice Cube
It is not advised to drink water with ice cubes because this can cause bacteria from the ice cube to get into your mouth.
Foods That Are Okay To Eat After The Implant
Soft Foods
If you need to eat something, go for a Greek yogurt, soup or a scrambled egg on toast. These are all soft and will not cause any harm to your implant.
Fruit
A fruit should be safe as long as it doesn’t not have any crunchy parts that can damage the implant. The only fruits you should avoid are pineapple, lemon, orange and grapefruit because they have high acidity levels.
Vegetables
Vegetables should be okay as long as you do not chew on them. Instead, cut them up into smaller pieces before eating.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts like walnuts or pecans can be eaten because they have hard shells that protect the inside from bacteria.
Wine and Beer
Alcohol can also be consumed if you feel like having a drink, as long as you allow two to three days after the implant.
Why Is It So Important To Focus On Protein Intake After A Dental Implant?
It is important to focus on protein intake after the implant because it helps with wound healing. The best sources of protein are fish, eggs and yogurt as they offer a lot of nutritional value with no risk of bacteria. Other protein sources such as beef or pork should not be eaten because they are too tough and can cause the implant to break, resulting in an infection.
If your implant gets infected it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. If you wait, the infection can get so bad that they will have to remove the implant and start from scratch with another one.
What If You Don’t Have Appetite After The Implant?
It is normal to not have an appetite after the implant, but you should still try eating a little bit of food. Most dentists recommend that you take at least 400mg of vitamin C every day to help with the healing process. You can also drink a smoothie with protein powder, avocado or eggs. This will give you the protein that your body needs to heal.
The idea is to stay away from anything with milk or any crunchy foods, and focus on soft food sources like yogurt, fruit or vegetables. However, don’t go without food for a long time because it can cause your body fat levels to drop and make you more susceptible to infections from bacteria and viruses.
As a general rule, you should not eat anything with high amount of sugar in it, such as ice cream and candy. These foods can lead to bacteria buildup in the mouth and make you more susceptible to an infection. You should also drink plenty of water and stay away from coffee or caffeinated drinks like tea. These types of beverages can dry out your mouth, which could lead to an infection because bacteria have a higher chance of getting into your body if your mouth is too dry.
