Why No Dairy After Dental Implant? Here’s What to Eat

Once your dental implant has osseointegrated and your mouth has healed fully, you will be able to eat whatever you like. In the aftermath of dental implant surgery, however, there are some food restrictions that your dental practitioner will put in place. These recommendations are best for healing and comfort after your dental implant procedure and should be followed strictly. Today we are going to explain ‘why no dairy after dental implant’ procedures, and give you some ideas for dairy-free alternatives.

The Importance Of Eating Soft Foods During Recovery

While it may be difficult to get through initially, you have to keep reminding yourself about the end result of your dental implant surgery: the ability to eat whatever you want. Until your gums and jaw bone is fully healed, there will be some limitations on what you eat. 

You must follow your dental practitioner’s instruction but in general, you can expect to avoid:

• Chewy and tough foods: Red meat and raw vegetables are good examples
• Sticky food: Caramel and toffee apples are not recommended during your recovery
• Crunchy food: popcorn and crisps should be avoided
• Spicy food: Chilies and salsa are good examples
• Acidic foods like lemons, oranges and tomatoes are not recommended after dental implant procedures.

Very hot food and drinks should also be avoided. Hot liquids like soups, tea and coffee are not recommended, but you should also take care to ensure that you do not overheat other foods before trying to eat them. The reason for this is you run the risk of dislodging the blood clot that forms at the surgical site if you do consume very hot (especially liquid) foods. If you dislodge the blood clot you will develop a condition called dry socket, which can cause very intense pain.

So What Can You Eat?

You might want to make a list of soft foods that you enjoy because these are most beneficial to you in the days after your dental implant surgery. After the surgery, your mouth and gums will be sensitive but you may feel hungry, and you need sustenance to help you with a faster recovery. 

Some soft foods that you may want to try in the first 24-hours after your dental implant procedure:

Smoothies are a good source of vitamins and minerals if you make them fresh yourself. Make sure your smoothie isn’t too cold when you drink it.

Cold soups are helpful too. Even though hot soups are not recommended, a cold soup is a good way to get your intake of fresh vegetables.

Once you have passed the 24-hour mark, you can get a bit more adventurous but you still want to keep the food soft. Some other ideas for later in the week include:

• Eggs and omelettes are a good source of protein and are easy to eat when your mouth feels sensitive 
• Potatoes are really helpful because you can prepare them in different ways so you don’t get bored eating the same menu over and over.
• Ground meat like beef, chicken or lamb can help you to get your recommended daily intake of protein.
• Oats are a great addition to your diet because they require minimal chewing and give you a healthy dose of fibre and carbohydrates.

But Why No Dairy?

Yes, it’s true. In the days after your dental implant surgery, you will be advised against dairy products, even though they are soft and a good source of protein. So, why no dairy? Dairy causes an inflammatory response in the oral tissues and this is not desirable after you have had dental implant surgery.

Dairy has also been known to trigger nausea and vomiting. While these side effects are unpleasant enough, vomiting can compromise your newly placed dental implant and introduce acidity into your mouth as you are trying to heal.

Examples of dairy food to avoid

• Cow’s milk
• Yoghurt
• Cheese

Once your dental practitioner gives you the green light you will be able to add dairy products back into your diet and benefit from the protein and calcium in them.

Make Sure You Get Plenty Of Protein During Healing

Protein plays a major role in the healing process because your body needs it to repair tissues that may have been damaged during dental implant surgery. Your body also needs a good dose of protein to help it ward off infection, of which there may be an elevated risk after a dental implant procedure. 

If you find that you don’t have much of an appetite, protein powder can be added to most meals and smoothies and should be considered if you are battling to ingest it in the form of food.

To find out more about what you can and can’t eat after dental implant surgery, or for guidance in preparing for your procedure, and also other concerns like cost of dental implants, please contact us for an appointment: (02) 9158 6211. 

References

Diet tips from Dr Grubb
https://drgrubb.com/dental-implants/what-to-eat-after-dental-implant-surgery/

Why no dairy after dental implant
https://talkradionews.com/why-no-dairy-after-dental-implant/#r