A Guide to Creatively Handling a Child's Dental Health
About Me
A Guide to Creatively Handling a Child's Dental Health

My family's dental health is important to me. Unfortunately for me, it is not as important to my little ones. Getting my kids to brush and floss on a daily basis is almost like taking on an obstacle course. I talked to my family's dentist about different methods I could try to encourage them to brush and floss on a regular basis. Some of the tricks worked, some did not. After some experimentation and talking to other parents, I was able to come up with a lot of great tips for helping kids care for their teeth. I started this blog to help other parents get creative when it comes to their kids and dental care.

Tags
Categories

A Guide to Creatively Handling a Child's Dental Health

Dental Implant Recovery: What To Eat, What Not To Eat And Why It Matters

Bella Snyder

A successful dental implant is reliant upon much more than a good dentist. In fact, much of how well you heal after implant surgery is up to you. Your dentist (such as one found through http://www.yourhealthygums.com) probably recommended that you quit smoking and he/she probably advised you to rest quite a bit during recovery. But perhaps one of the most important factors in how well you heal is what you eat. 

Why Food Matters

A dental implant is placed directly into the jaw, meaning the implant must fuse with the bone tissue. This process is called osseointegration and can take several months. Osseointegration is important because it ensures the implant is stable and well supported. During the healing months, any extra stress on the implant can hurt its integration or make the implant loose. Because of this, it is important to avoid any food that can disrupt the healing process and cause your implant to fail.

Which Foods To Avoid

You know now that you should avoid any foods that could cause your implant extra stress, but what kind of foods are those exactly?

  • Hard foods: Nuts, pretzels, hard candies, dried fruits and crunchy fresh fruits and veggies, such as apples and carrots, are not advisable during the healing process.
  • Chewy foods: The obvious things to avoid would be treats like caramels, taffy and gum, but you really should avoid anything that takes a whole lot of chewing, such as cookies, bread rolls, salads, and red meat. 
  • Foods that stick in your teeth: Now is not the time for that poppy seed muffin or that tub of popcorn. The particles that get left behind from seeds and your favorite movie treat can get lodged in your teeth and gums. 
  • Really cold or hot food: While some soft ice cream or some hot soup may seem like smart things to eat, extreme temperatures aren't so good for your healing process. They can cause pain or even open the wound. 
  • No straws: While this isn't true for your entire healing time, for at least the first 48 hours, don't drink through a straw. It can push against the implant and cause irritation.

What You Can Eat

It probably seems like there is a lot you shouldn't eat, but don't worry. There are still many delicious things you can eat as you heal.

  • Soft fruits and vegetables: Bananas, peaches, melon, and berries are all good choices during your recovery time. Full of taste, vitamins and antioxidants, you can't go wrong with soft fruit. Also good are steamed vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and squash. Warm (not hot) vegetable soups are also a healthy choice. 
  • Grains and starches: Most grains and starches, when cooked, get nice and soft for ease of eating. Consider oatmeal, rice, noodles and mashed potatoes for some of your meals.
  • Protein: Don't forget your protein! Even though avoiding red meat for a while is a good idea, you can still get protein through eggs, cheese, yogurt, beans and quinoa.
  • Beverages: Water is, of course, the best choice. Hydration is important to good health and recovery.

Getting a dental implant takes a little forethought and planning. Have easy-to-eat foods in your home before you have the procedure done so your recovery will go as smoothly as possible.


Share