I had dental implant consultations with 3 dentists. I was hoping to get standard sized implants for my dentures, but none of the dentists can get the cost down low enough for me. I decided to get 4 mini implants. Anything will be better than what’s going on now. I’ve worn dentures for 25 years, so I cough with my mouth closed, sneeze with my mouth closed and I barely smile because just about anything makes my dentures fall out. If I understood the dentists correctly, I received mixed information on what kind of diet I would need after implant surgery. Will it be a strictly liquid diet or can I eat something a little for substantial? I’m concerned about my diabetes and I just need to work with my medical doctor to plan things correctly so I won’t have any problems. Thanks. Sandra
Sandra – It’s good that you’ve decided to at least receive mini implants to stabilize your dentures. Although standard implants are ideal, it’s important to stabilize your dentures to improve comfort and to help control jawbone shrinkage.
What Are the Dietary Requirements after Dental Implant Surgery?
Immediately after dental implant surgery, you will need a liquid diet. You can get nutrition by preparing vegetable smoothies that contain protein. You’ll also need to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. If necessary, you can choose a beverage that is low in sugar, but that has enough sugar content to help control your glucose level.
Regardless of what you drink, avoid drinking it from a straw. The suction can interfere with the clotting process and cause bleeding at the dental implant sites. It can also interfere with the healing process.
After a few days, you can eat warm, soft foods. You can eat warm soup or warm, soft vegetables. If you eat fish, you can blend it or mash it to avoid a lot of chewing. It will provide an additional source of protein. Anything crunchy or chewy should be avoided because it can irritate the implant sites.
If you have additional concerns about your intake and how it will affect your diabetes, speak with your primary care doctor and a nutritionist.
This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Collins.