What to Eat After All-on-4 Surgery?
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What to Eat After All-on-4 Surgery?

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Recently had a surgery and thinking What to Eat After All-on-4 Surgery? We are here to help you. One of the most satisfying benefits of dental implants is regaining the ability to eat without pain while rediscovering your favorite foods. Getting dental implants is very exciting for our patients, but it’s also important to adjust your diet temporarily post-surgery and follow the proper care guidelines. Continue reading to find out what to eat after your dental implant surgery.

Week One After Surgery: “No-Chew” Liquid Diet Guidelines

For your dental implants to integrate successfully, you’ll need to adjust your diet as follows:

Drink plenty of fluids

For the first 24 to 47 hours, consume only cool liquids. After that, food can be warm but not boiling hot for 2 weeks, or for 4 weeks if you have had sinus surgery. If adding fruit to smoothies, avoid fruit with small seeds like strawberries.

Do Not Skip Meals

Eating and drinking regularly will make you feel better and heal more quickly. It will also give you more energy.

Add Protein Supplements

Patients tend to lack protein most while on a soft food diet. As such, we recommend adding protein supplements to your diet.

If Diabetic, Check your Glucose Frequently

If you are diabetic, maintain your eating habits and check your glucose often. This is key to infection prevention and to avoid diabetic-related complications. Contact your primary care physician with any diabetes-related questions you may have.

Avoid Drinking Straws

Do not use straws or drink from bottles requiring suction!

“No-Chew” Shopping List:

  • Apple sauce
  • Avocados (mashed)
  • Broth
  • Cottage cheese
  • Cream of wheat or grits (no oatmeal)
  • Eggs (scrambled)
  • Ensure and other protein shakes
  • Ice cream (no chunks)
  • Jell-O
  • Potatoes (mashed)
  • Milk shakes (no straw)
  • Pudding
  • Smoothies
  • Soup (cream or broth)
  • Squash/sweet potatoes (mashed)
  • Yogurt
  • Non-grocery items: Ibuprofen, tea bags, heating bag and hot water bottle, ice packs 

Foods to Avoid:

  • Chips and pretzels
  • Crusty breads
  • Corn-on-the-cob
  • Granola
  • Gum
  • Hard candy
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Pizza (crust)
  • Raw apples and vegetables
  • Sub sandwiches
  • Steaming, hot foods

Week Two After Surgery: “Fork-Tender” Diet Guidelines

From 2 weeks post-op until we place your definitive bridge, it is important for you to eat only foods that are soft and easy to chew. The “fork-tender” diet is a graduated diet. Start with foods that are still quite soft before moving up to things that need to be chewed more thoroughly. Anything that can be cut with the side of a fork is suitable for this part of your diet.

“Fork-tender” Shopping List:

  • All items from the week one “no-chew” shopping list
  • Fish (tender)
  • Fruits (canned)
  • Meats (ground and canned)
  • Meatloaf
  • Pasta (soft)
  • Vegetables (cooked)

Foods to Avoid:

  • Chips and pretzels
  • Crusty breads
  • Corn-on-the-cob
  • Granola
  • Gum
  • Hard Candy
  • Pizza (crust)
  • Raw apples and vegetables
  • Sub sandwiches
  • Steaming, hot foods

Now that you know all about What to Eat After All-on-4 Surgery. We hope by following the above guidelines, you’ll be setting yourself up for dental implant success! If you have any questions about dietary guidelines or dental implant care and maintenance, give us a call at 800-250-3500.