So, let’s say you’ve just finished a dental implant surgery. You’re probably feeling pretty excited. After all, now you’ll get the benefits of a restored and functional smile! That means nicer vacation photos, better first impressions, and improved self-confidence! Given the season, though, it also means being able to eat your favorite summer foods. Once your implants fully fuse with your jawbone, you can eat tougher stuff that you couldn’t before. To learn more, here are three summery products you can have with implants and what to eat in the meantime.
Summer Foods to Enjoy with Implants
As said before, dental implants let you eat harder foods. Due to being fused with your jaw, they restore more of your bite force compared to dentures or bridges. As a result, implants give you the strength to chew most kinds of meals.
Of course, said meals include your standard summer fare, such as:
- Chewy Meats – That’s right, meat’s back on the menu! Your implants can handle it if you have a burger, hot dog, steak, or BBQ ribs. To be on the safe side, though, consider cooking them to medium-rare, so they’re just a tad softer.
- Crunchy Vegetables – Many summer cookouts feature grilled veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, and more. Fortunately, your restorations will be just fine with these foods. Plus, grilling them means their texture will be easier on your teeth.
- Crisp & Juicy Fruits – You can freely have fruits like apples, watermelons, and strawberries with dental implants. However, cut apples into slices first to ensure they don’t strain your jaw.
What to Eat Following Surgery
While it’s true that implants let you eat the summer foods above, you need to recover from surgery first. In the days after treatment, your replacement teeth are still fusing with your jawbone. It isn’t wise to go out and eat hard foods until they’re stable enough.
Take the first 48 hours after the procedure, for instance. You shouldn’t eat anything hot, spicy, or tough during that period. Otherwise, you might irritate the surgical site. Instead, have soft products that require almost no chewing. As the incision heals, you can gradually move up to minimal chewing.
In less time than you’d think, your dentist will give you the go-ahead to eat as you’d like. That said, you should look forward to when you can eat some fantastic summer specialties!
About the Practice
Morgan-Hill Dental Care is based in Gorham, ME. Its staff, having made patient comfort their highest priority, take the time to cultivate a welcoming dental practice. To that end, they provide personalized preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, including dental implant treatment. They’re also equipped with sedation tools for patients with dental anxiety. For more information or to schedule an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (207)-839-2655.