All-on-4 lets you reclaim a complete smile after extensive tooth loss, but it will take your mouth a while to recover after the surgery. As such, there will be some restrictions on what you can eat or drink for a while after the procedure. If you’re thinking about getting All-on-4 to replace your missing teeth, it’s important to make sure that you’re prepared for the recovery process; here’s a look at what your diet will be like after the implant posts have been placed.
First 1 to 2 Weeks: All-Liquid Diet
You’re likely to find eating difficult during the first couple of weeks after the procedure due to soreness in your mouth. For this reason, your diet during this period will consist entirely of liquids such as fruit juice, broth-based soups, and protein shakes. It’s important to pick a variety of liquids that are high in nutrition in order to ensure that your recovery goes as planned.
Note that immediately following the surgery, you won’t be able to drink anything through a straw since doing so could dislodge the blood clots that have formed at the surgical sites. On top of that, during the first 48 hours, you should avoid hot liquids that can lead to bleeding.
After the First Two Weeks: Soft Food Diet
You should reach the point where you can comfortably eat soft foods again after the first two weeks of your recovery. Hard or crunchy foods will still be off limits for the time being, however, as trying to chew them could cause problems for your dental implants while they’re still in the process of fusing with your jaw.
There are many different kinds of soft foods that you will be able to enjoy during this time. Soft fruits like bananas are often good choices, as are cooked vegetables. Oatmeal, soft bread, cheese, scrambled eggs, and yogurt are also viable options. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the kinds of foods you will be able to eat during the recovery process so that you can properly prepare ahead of time.
Taking Care of Your Body During All-on-4 Recovery
Regardless of what stage of the recovery process you’re in, you need to make taking care of yourself a priority while you’re on a different diet. If you have reason to believe that you aren’t getting sufficient nutrition, you may need to make some changes regarding the foods you’re eating. Remember that you can always ask your loved ones for help.
As long as you make smart choices regarding your diet and take proper care of yourself throughout the process, you should be able to help your mouth recover without issue, putting you on the path toward enjoying a re-completed smile thanks to All-on-4.
About the Author
Dr. Walter Mick is a graduate of the Ohio State University School of Dentistry and a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He is able to offer start-to-finish dental implant procedures, including All-on-4 for replacing an entire row of teeth at once. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Mick at Mick Family Dental Care in Reynoldsburg, visit his website or call (614) 864-4618.