Having dental implants fitted is an expensive procedure; one that you don’t want to ruin by failing to follow the advice given by your dentist on taking care of the implants and your own oral health during and after the installation. The dentist will do his part, by professionally fitting the All on 4 implants and carrying out a bone graft if necessary, but after that it is up to you to do everything you can to protect the implants, especially in the immediate aftermath of the procedure when your mouth is sore and more open to infection.

For the first few days after the implants have been fitted you should try and avoid solid food altogether. This is important for two reasons; firstly so that the All on 4 implants are not damaged and secondly because your mouth is likely to be quite sire after undergoing the invasive procedure. Soups, puddings like custard and yoghurts (without pieces of fruit) are ideal and you can also puree food, almost as if you were preparing meals for a baby! This may get boring quickly,but you only have to put up with this diet for a small number of days and it is the best way to protect your expensive dental implants.

After a few days you can slowly start to reintroduce normal foods into your diet, but there are still some general rules you should follow for a further few weeks. Try and avoid eating foods that are hard or which come in small pieces and could get stuck in the implants. Popcorn, in particular, is a big no-no. If you can remember, do you best to chew your food on the side away from where the All on 4 implants have been fitted and try not to eat too many foods that are very hot or very cold, as you will find that your gums are more sensitive than usual after the procedure.

Once the sensitivity and pain has subsided and your implants have healed in position, you can eat pretty much any foods you like, although you should still take care when eating things like raw vegetables or popcorn. Make certain you take good care of your implants after eating by brushing your teeth regularly and using special toothbrushes which can get into the narrow spaces between the implant and the gum. Food can become trapped there which can in turn cause further oral health problems such as gum disease. If you have invested time and money in the perfect smile, then you should do your best to keep your implants looking good.