Dental implants are a great way of replacing missing or damaged teeth. However, eating during and after the treatment process can sometimes present some challenges. Below is a brief guide to eating with dental implants.

Increased Sensitivity During Treatment

The process of having a dental implant fitted is a long one. Your cosmetic dentist will first insert a metal screw into your jaw, which will be used to secure the artificial tooth. However, before the artificial tooth can be attached, you will have to wait until the metal screw fuses with the bone. The amount of time this takes can vary from person to person but it can take months. In the weeks following the insertion of the screw, your gum may be swollen, sore and sensitive. You should avoid consuming very hot or cold food and drink as this can cause pain and discomfort.

Bite Pressure After Treatment

Once the treatment is complete and your prosthetic teeth have been fitted, you should be able to enjoy food such as hard cheese, tough meat and nuts However, you should refrain from eating hard foods for a few weeks after treatment to allow your dental implants to settle in. You should eat soft food such as mashed potatoes, pasta, soup and yoghurt. If you apply too much bite pressure before the dental implants have settled, you could jeopardise the success of the treatment. Your dentist should be able to advise you on how long you should wait before tackling harder food.

Dental Hygiene

Although your the artificial teeth which have been inserted into your gum will not decay, they still need to be cleaned. If food debris becomes stuck between your gum and the implant this can result in inflammation and infection of the gum. If debris becomes trapped between the implant and surrounding natural teeth, this can lead to the natural teeth suffering from decay. You should maintain your dental hygiene routine and clean your artificial teeth in the same way you clean your natural teeth.

Eating after you have been fitted with dental implants should not pose any long-term problem. Before you know it you will be back to enjoying all the foods you use to. However,  to avoid any discomfort or complications, it is important that you are careful to eat appropriate foods during your recovery from the surgery If you have any questions or concerns about your new dental implants, you should contact your dentist who will be happy to offer help and advice.

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