Diet After Dental Implant Placement
Since dental implants usually fuse with the jawbone, the advantages of dental implant placement usually go beyond helping a person to get a perfect smile. Implants usually help to prevent jawbone loss, something that may happen if a person goes without teeth for a long time, and the stability that they provide usually makes activities like chewing more comfortable.
However, before implants can grow strong enough to support a dental crown, they need to time to bond with both the jawbone and the gum tissue surrounding the implants. The diet that a person takes immediately after a dental implant placement usually goes a long way in determining how smooth the bonding process can be. The following are dietary tips that will come in handy in helping to ensure a smooth recovery process.
Soft foods
Implants take time to fuse with the jawbone and the tissues around implants usually take time to heal. The period immediately after surgery is a delicate period for the implant bonding process. Eating any hard foods during this time is bound to upset the tissues surrounding to the implant. It is also likely to mess with any implant-jawbone bonds that may have started to form.
To ensure flawless fusion, it is advisable that you stick to a soft-foods diet. This means sticking with foods like mashed potatoes, applesauce, yogurt, soup and eggs. You may be able to adopt harder foods as time goes by, but it is always advisable that you check with your dentist before graduating into the hard foods class.
Lodge-prone foods
There are foods which when chewed tend to get lodged in teeth and implants. Although these foods won't directly disturb the stability of the implants, they may affect the healing process. This is because any food particles that get lodged in the implant area are a potential food source for mouth bacteria. These foods may encourage a build-up of bacteria around the healing area. The infection that will result may then affect the healing process. It is advisable to keep away from foods like sunflower seeds, rice, nuts and popcorn.
Anti-inflammation foods
Inflammation can occur around dental implants. When it does, it can disrupt the bonding process. Adopting a diet that is rich in anti-inflammation foods can come in handy in helping to reduce the risks of this complication developing and thus guaranteeing a flawless healing process. Some of the foods that you should consider adding to your diet include fresh vegetables and fruits, omega-3 fatty acid food sources like fish, a healthy dose of spices, and soy.
For more tips on how to heal after a dental implant placement, contact a company like Bruce Mathes DDS.
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