After an implant is placed, osseointegration begins — the implant fusing with the bone. The most vulnerable part of that process is the first few weeks, while the implant is not yet anchored. Food and how you eat affect it directly.
The first 24 hours
- Do not eat until the anaesthetic has fully worn off — otherwise you will bite your cheek or tongue without noticing.
- Cool or room-temperature food only. Heat dilates blood vessels and encourages bleeding.
- Do not use a straw — the suction disturbs clot formation.
- Suitable: yoghurt, quark, cooled soup, a smoothie eaten with a spoon, scrambled egg.
Days 1–7: soft food
Food should be something you can break up with a spoon and swallow without chewing at the surgical site.
- Mashed potato, stewed vegetables, poached fish.
- Egg dishes, cottage cheese, cheese.
- Porridge, well-cooked pasta.
- Soups cooled to room temperature.
- Chew only on the opposite side.
Enough protein and calories matter too. Tissue healing needs building material — a diet that is too light slows it down.
Weeks 2–6: returning gradually
Food can gradually become firmer, but do not load the surgical site until your dentist says so. Keep avoiding hard and sticky food.
What to avoid until healed
- Hard food: nuts, seeds, crisps, rusks, raw carrots, whole apples.
- Sticky food: toffee, dried fruit, chewing gum.
- Small seeds: sesame, poppy, strawberry seeds — they get into the wound.
- Spicy and acidic food irritates healing mucosa.
- Very hot food and drink in the first days.
Two things that matter more than food
- Smoking. Impairs blood supply and is the leading risk factor for implant failure. Stop for at least 2 weeks before and after surgery.
- Alcohol. Avoid for at least 72 hours, particularly alongside painkillers and antibiotics.
Oral hygiene after eating
The site must not be brushed in the first days, but the rest of the mouth needs cleaning as usual — plaque must not build up. From the second day, rinse gently after meals with salt water or the solution your dentist recommends. Do not rinse vigorously.
When to be concerned
Mild swelling and discomfort for 2–3 days is normal. Get in touch if pain increases after the third day, swelling grows, you develop a fever, or there is an unpleasant taste from the implant site.
For questions, call Unidenta on +372 5361 3111.