Foods that are overly hard or brittle can be painful on a tender mouth. Avoid these foods, as well as any others that are difficult to chew: Pizza.
When can I eat my regular diet after a gum graft? Typically, your gum graft should heal within 14 days. After that, you can resume eating as you wish.
3rd day until 2 weeks after surgery: A very soft food diet should only be eaten (Pasta, soups, eggs, fish, cooked soft vegetables, oatmeal, rice, beans etc.) Avoid any hard, spicy, crusty, coffee or acidic foods. Chewing should be done on the side opposite the surgical site.
Dairy. Many dairy foods are easy to consume after your oral surgery. These include custard, yogurt, plain ice cream, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, milkshakes, mild cheese, cream cheese, and milk.
The third day after surgery, a soft food diet can be started where you can enjoy pasta, fish, soup, mashed potatoes, rice, eggs, cooked soft vegetables, or oatmeal. Avoid chewing on the surgical site side of the mouth.
Expect the 3rd or 4th day after the surgery to be the worst in swelling. Do not be alarmed if you have swelling at this time, it is normal. By the 5th day, the swelling should be down. For bruising and swelling you may go to any health food store (i.e. Whole Foods) and get some Arnica Montana.
The gum tissue will undergo changes for the next 1-2 weeks. The graft color may change from pink to white. This is NORMAL. Then the color will change to red and then back to pink as the swelling decreases.
Proper Diet After Gum Treatment
In the first week after treatment, it's essential to eat a soft diet, including: Scrambled eggs. They are not only nutritious but are also easy to chew. Dairy products like yogurt, milk, ice cream, and butter.
In fact, there are several soft food options that can help you through your recovery period. Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fish, soft bread, pudding, canned fruit, rice, oatmeal, and yogurt are all excellent choices.
Don't dip hard raw vegetables (like carrots) or crumbly crackers. They can damage your healing wounds. Pasta is a great choice as a surgery recovery food.
Periodontal Cosmetic Procedures Instructions
Avoid hot foods for the 1st day (hot soups, coffee, tea) as they will increase swelling to the treated area(s). Warm foods can be consumed on the 2nd day.
After gum graft surgery, it is highly recommended to stick to a soft food diet for the first few days to avoid causing any trauma to the surgical site. They are gentle to your oral cavity, easier to consume, and less likely to get stuck and cause infection in the surgical area.
The gum graft is held in place with very delicate sutures and takes 5-7 days to attach firmly. Repeated pulling back of the cheek, lip or tongue to look at the graft, can cause the graft to move during the first 5-7 days after surgery, which can cause the graft to fail.
After 24 Hours.
You may return to normal daily routine, but avoid strenuous activities such as heavy lifting, or exercise programs which elevate your heart rate for 1 week following surgery.
For 3 days after your surgery, DO NOT spit, smoke, rinse hard, drink through a straw, create a “sucking” action in your mouth, use a commercial mouthwash, drink carbonated soda, or use an oral irrigating device. Doing any of these can disrupt clotting, the healing process, open the incision and cause the graft to fail.
After surgery, comes an essential part: healing. Our nutrition plays a massive role in how well and fast we heal after our surgeries. One of the most critical foods people should take when recovering from oral surgery is yogurt.
You shouldn't have any further oral hygiene restrictions with brushing. However, don't use a water-pick, or electric toothbrush around the area of grafting for 6 weeks after the surgery.
For two or three days following a gum graft, eat soft and unsticky foods. Eat lots of things like warm (not hot) oatmeal, cream of wheat cereal, eggs, yogurt, pasta, smoothies (not too cold), and mashed potatoes that have cooled slightly. Jello is another ideal option.
It will get red and puffy, then white or gray with sloughing for up to two weeks. The tissue will change to pink or the natural color of your gums as the area heals.
This area takes one to two weeks to heal. While it's recommended that patients refrain from strenuous physical activity or exercise for 24 hours following the surgery, most patients find that they can return to their usual activities, such as work, the next day.
If your gum graft failed, you'll probably notice a large patch of white tissue that has come off of your tooth. Its lack of color means that the gum graft lost blood supply and is dying.
When the soft tissues shrink, and there is less swelling, you will know that healing has begun. The gum tissues gradually start to bind to the root surface and the nearby bone surface. New vessels will also begin to form, and the tissues will receive an adequate blood supply.
Signs of Gum Graft Failure
A failed gum graft can be easy to detect. Your periodontist will inform you of signs to watch out for, such as a large patch of white tissue or the graft appearing to be falling off. When this happens, it means the transplanted tissue has lost its blood supply, leading to its “death”.
Keeping your head elevated above your heart will also help. Most swelling can occur in the morning and up to 3 days after surgery. Avoid sleeping / laying on the side that surgery was performed. Two days after surgery, moist heat will help resolve minor swelling.