Summer is here—and with it the smell of backyard BBQ and the familiar jingle of the ice cream man looking for children with fistfuls of quarters. Normally this would be the time for all kinds of sweet and savory treats, but if you just received your dental implants, it can be tricky to find food to eat that celebrates the season without making your dentist frown.
If you’re looking for summer foods that fit that description, then you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading to discover what makes a good summer food, and which ones you should avoid, to keep your mouth healthy.
Do: Eat Lots of Healthy Fruit
It’s not really summer without some delicious fruit on a hot day. Whether you’re enjoying a big slice of seedless watermelon, or a fruit salad of fresh strawberries, bananas, peaches, and blueberries, fresh fruit is a staple of summer cuisine.
In addition to being tasty, these fruits are soft and full of vitamins and minerals essential to the continued health of your jawbone that holds your implants. It’s a real win-win.
Don’t: Eat Foods High in Saturated Fat
It may not be what you want to hear, but it needs to be said—hot dogs are loaded with saturated fat, so you will need to forgo them until your jaw can heal. This can also be said of many other BBQ staples like steaks and pulled pork.
Saturated fat in large quantities can lead to gum inflammation which will weaken the bond between your implants and your mouth. Does this mean you can never eat hot dogs or other meats again? Not at all. Just limit your intake and remember to brush afterwards if you can.
Do: Eat Foods High in Good Protein
You may not be able to consume hot dogs and steak as you’d like, but there are a few great alternatives that are good and good for you. Salmon and chicken are two incredible proteins that will make your dental implants and your taste buds happy. Just try not to slather them in too much sauce as it can contain acidic or sugary ingredients.
Don’t: Eat a Bunch of Sugary Food
Speaking of sugar, it’s in more than the sauce—sad to say. Many summer foods are loaded with sugar, including the ever-popular s’more. Pecan-praline ice cream, apple pie, peach cobbler, and an ice-cold Coca-Cola—all of it contains sugar or corn syrup, which can feed infection-causing bacteria in your mouth and cause implant failure.
Dental implants are incredible replacements if you happen to lose a tooth at some point, but dentists prefer that you keep your natural teeth as healthy as possible instead.
Limiting sugary foods, foods high in saturated fat, and foods that will get stuck between your teeth are all great ways to ensure that your dental implants are as strong as possible and you can continue to enjoy the tastes of summer.
About the Practice
Dr. Bruce E. Carter and Dr. Shariq Zafrani are compassionate and professional dentists offering state-of-the-art dental treatments in everything from teeth cleaning to dental implants. Dr. Carter was named the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce’s Physician of the Year in 2014 and continues to demonstrate his passion and dedication for the science. If you have questions about dental implants or other services, visit their website here or call (770) 995-7616.