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. However, the only away to know for certain is by consulting with your periodontist.
You can begin to brush the front and back of the teeth in the graft area, however, the gum tissue should not be contacted. Avoid eating hard, tough, or crunchy foods (chips, popcorn, nuts, caramels, steak, etc.) during the first 6 weeks following 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.
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.
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.
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.
Don't put anything in your mouth that is too hot- such as that amazing pepperoni pizza you always burn your mouth on. You need to eat soft foods for at least a week after a gum graft.
AVOID PEROXIDE, ALCOHOL, CARBONATED BEVERAGES, AND DRINKING THROUGH A STRAW. After 24 Hours. You may have soft foods, such as cooked vegetables, fish, pasta, and meatloaf, which are easily chewed. You should use utensils and avoid chewing at the surgical site for 2 weeks.
Cold or warm temperature foods are recommended for the first day. Coffee or tea can be consumed if it is not hot. After the first day, stay on a soft but balanced diet.
Every person heals differently. But on average, gum graft recovery takes one week to two weeks.
Exercise: Avoid strenuous exercise or lifting weights for the 1st week after surgery. You may walk or ride a bike carefully.
If you simply graft over the exposed root of a mis-positioned tooth, you will have a 100% failure rate. You haven't changed the conditions that led to recession in the first place. So, in these cases, your Dentist should first improve tooth position with conventional braces or Invisalign.
Keep Up a Good Oral Hygiene Routine
But don't brush the site of your gum grafting surgery. You can gently pass the brush over the tops of your teeth, but avoid contact with the graft site. Also, don't floss for a couple of weeks, or until your mouth is healed.
After implant surgery, your gums are healing from having an incision made through them. It is vitally important that you avoid drinking hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate after the procedure itself for up to two or three days.
Yogurt. Yogurt is a great snack to eat after your wisdom teeth are removed. For one thing, it's completely soft, so you won't have to chew at all. For another, it's a good source of protein and other nutrients that you'll need to help recover after surgery.
Pasta is a great choice as a surgery recovery food. But no al dente after the dentist. Cook pasta until it's soft and a little bit mushy for ease of eating. Pasta serves as a great base for many types of blended sauces.
Warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) can be used 4-5 times a day best after meals. This usually speeds up the healing and provides a comfortable feeling to your tissues.
Avoid Talking (As Much As Possible)
Talking causes your mouth's muscles to stretch, which, in turn, can loosen up the gauze and increase the chances of bleeding. Refraining from speaking is hard, but try to remain silent as much as possible for the first two to three days after gum grafting surgery.
You will know that the graft is healing when the swelling subsides and the soft tissues are shrinking. Your gum tissue will begin binding to the root surface and bone. Then, new blood vessels will begin to form to enable blood flow to the graft. This stage takes four to six weeks from surgery.
Do not look at the surgery site after leaving here. Some areas may remain sore for 5 to 6 days. The grafts may be a whitish or grayish appearance for 4 to 6 days after surgery, but this is normal until full blood circulation is restored.
For soft tissue “gum” grafts, the site(s) may appear white during the healing process (up to 2 weeks), this is normal and not a sign of infection. The tissue will change to a pink color as it heals.
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.
Most swelling can occur in the morning and up to 3 days after surgery. Avoid sleeping / laying on the side that surgery was performed.