If you will soon be undergoing an All-on-4 procedure for dental implants, you may be wondering what your diet will look like for the next few months. The truth is, while recovery from this procedure is relatively easy, you will still need to temporarily adjust what you eat until you’ve healed completely.
When it comes to your diet, there are two distinct recovery periods to plan for. Here’s how you should plan to eat during this time.
One to Two Weeks Post Op
For the first one to two weeks post procedure, you will likely be experiencing soreness in your mouth, jaw, and throat. While this discomfort and swelling will eventually go away, it is important to eat a liquid or non-chewing diet during this time.
You can start drinking fluids immediately after your surgery, but limit this to cool liquids only for the first 48 hours. Do not attempt to drink anything hot until your anesthesia has worn off and stay away from anything spicy until after the third- or fourth-day post-op. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption during the healing process, and never use a straw, as this can loosen your blood clots and cause excess bleeding that slows recovery.
Foods to Eat During the First Two Weeks
There are many liquids you can enjoy during the first two weeks post-op. Here are some examples:
- Water
- Coconut water
- Juice
- Kefir
- Tea
- Coffee (stick to decaf for the first three days)
- Hot chocolate
- Coffee creamer / Half and half
- Broth
- Strained or pureed vegetable soup
- Strained meat or cream-based soup
- Milk (dairy, nut, or pea based)
- Milkshakes
- Yogurt drinks
- Nutrition / meal replacement shakes
- Smoothies
- Soda (no caffeine for the first three days)
- Gelatin
- Pudding
- Custard
- Sherbet
- Ice cream
- Frozen yogurt
- Frozen fluids like popsicles or fruit ice
If you find that you are still hungry, or if you feel shaky or weak, you may want to add some calories to your liquid. Suitable options include:
- Powdered egg whites
- Powdered milk
- Instant breakfast mixes such as oatmeal or cream of wheat
- Butter, margarine, or oil
- Sugar, syrup, or honey
- Brewer’s yeast
Two Weeks to Three Months Post Op
After the two-week mark, you should feel a lot stronger, and your mouth should feel much better. You will then be ready to upgrade from a liquid diet to a soft food diet. While you may be eager to begin eating solid foods again, remember to pace yourself as it is very dangerous to eat foods that are hard, crunchy, or chewy during the first three months.
Once you hit the two-week post op mark, you can continue to drink the same beverages as you could from day one, however you can begin to thicken them. You can also add some foods that require minimal chewing to your diet, including:
- Fruits and vegetables that are
- Mashed
- Soft
- Canned / without skin or seeds
- Baked or cooked to a soft consistency
- Bread, pasta, and grains
- Soaked in syrup, gravy, or sauce
- Soft breads
- Muffins
- Pancakes / crepes
- Cooked pasta
- Quinoa
- Oatmeal / cream of wheat
- Mashed potatoes
- Protein
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Pureed stews
- Sloppy joes
- Chili
- Polenta
- Hummus
- Soft tofu
- Yogurt
Remember, your diet during the first few months following all-on-4 surgery needs to be modified to help your mouth heal and your dental implants to successfully complete the osseointegration process. Failure to do so could cause them to fail or significantly delay your recovery. If you have any questions or concerns about what you can eat during this time, please contact your dentist.
About Our Practice
At Lifetime Dental of Gainesville, our dentists want you to have a lifetime of beautiful smiles. Whether it’s treating your biological teeth or replacing lost ones with the help of dental implants, we have a variety of solutions to make you happy.
If you’d like to learn more about All-on-4 and if dental implants are right for you, visit our website today to schedule a consultation, or call our office at 770-536-6688.