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For many people, the thought of eating with confidence again is one of the biggest reasons they choose dental implants.
Sandy, a dental implant patient, described eating before implants as a ‘scary proposition.’ She often ate in secret at home, avoiding meals with friends or family for fear of embarrassment or choking. For her, implants weren’t just about chewing food again — they were about getting her confidence and her life back.
If you’ve lived with failing or missing teeth, you know food can feel more like a source of stress than enjoyment. Every bite comes with questions: Will this hurt? Will something break? Will people notice? That constant second-guessing is exhausting.
The good news is that there’s a permanent solution– and it doesn’t mean countless dental appointments. With Nuvia’s approach—permanent zirconia teeth in just 24 hours—you can get back to normal eating without spending months stuck in a set of weak plastic “healing teeth.”
Here’s what you need to know about what you can eat with dental implants and when.
Can I Eat After Getting Dental Implants?
When it comes to eating immediately after getting dental implants, you’ll want to follow your provider’s guidance. While some providers will use traditional methods and prescribe a liquid-only diet - at Nuvia you can start eating soft-foods immediately after getting your permanent teeth.
So why the soft-food diet?
Think of your diet as a gradual return to normal: soft foods now while your dental implants heal and fuse with your jaw bone. Later, you can add more variety and once you have the clear from your care team, you can eat anything you’d like.
Anything you could eat with a healthy set of natural teeth is on the table with dental implants.
**Important: If you see a provider that uses traditional methods (like teeth-in-a-day), it’s possible you’ll be wearing a set of temporary teeth for up to 10+ months. These teeth are NOT designed to be as strong as a final set of teeth and require some caution when it comes to eating.
That means nearly a year of living on caution — cutting food into tiny pieces, babying fragile plastic, coming back for break repairs, and likely never really eating with confidence. All while you’re paying for teeth that were never meant to last.
If you want to skip that step and get back to eating your favorite foods with a set of permanent teeth, Nuvia’s 24 hour process may be for you.
Take the 60-second quiz to see if you may be a candidate.
Now, let’s take a closer look at your timeframe and what you can expect to be able to eat at different points of the healing phase.
Day 1: Starting a Soft Food Diet
Right after surgery, soft foods are essential. Choose meals that are smooth, soft, and easy to eat without much pressure.
Good options include:
- Yogurt, pudding, applesauce
- Mashed potatoes, refried beans, smooth soups
- Oatmeal or cream of wheat (softened well)
- Protein shakes or smoothies (without seeds or crunchy add-ins)
Sandy remembers being thrilled she could eat ice cream right after surgery— Neapolitan, her favorite. It wasn’t just a treat, but also soothing on her healing gums.”
These are good options for day one but anything that can be cut with a plastic fork is an option. Because your permanent zirconia teeth are placed the very next day, you’ll be using your real teeth right away—on foods you actually want to eat.
Weeks 1–16: “The Plastic Fork Rule”
The plastic fork rule is what you’ll want to follow up until your provider clears you to eat whatever you want. At Nuvia, this is typically 4 months after your procedure but individual needs can vary.
Here are some ideas of foods that are great for a soft-food diet and can be cut with a plastic fork:
Soft Proteins
- Scrambled eggs, cottage cheese
- Baked salmon, tuna salad
- Tender shredded chicken or turkey
Soft Carbs
- Mac and cheese, soft pasta
- Pancakes or waffles (soaked with syrup or butter)
- Rice or well-cooked grains
Fruits & Vegetables
- Bananas, ripe melon, canned peaches
- Avocado, mashed yams, or soft steamed carrots
Snacks
- Hummus with soft pita
- Smooth nut butters on soft bread
- Blended soups or broths
During this stage, avoid hard, sticky, or crunchy foods. Your dental implants are fusing with your bone, and patience with your diet helps protect your long-term results.
Just because it’s called a “soft-food” diet, doesn’t mean you can’t be creative with it. About a week after her surgery, Sandy enjoyed a Frito pie — softening the chips in chili so she could savor the flavors without crunch. It reminded her that with a little creativity, she could still enjoy her favorite foods during healing.
**Actual NUVIA patient(s) who may have been compensated for sharing their story. Not all those who come in for a consultation are eligible for this treatment. Results may vary in individual cases.
After You’re Cleared: What You Can Eat With Dental Implants
When your care team gives you the green light, you can begin reintroducing firmer foods.
For Sandy, that meant something as simple — but meaningful — as enjoying a real sandwich again. Sandy laughs about how she had to ‘learn to chew again’ after years of avoiding food in public, but the confidence she felt eating alongside her family was worth the short adjustment.
At first, take it slow and chew with care, but know that this stage is where you have total freedom eating what you like.
But here’s something most people don’t realize about implants: with the old way, this freedom may take almost a year to reach. With Nuvia, it starts on day two.
No Liquid Diet with Permanent Teeth in 24 Hours
With traditional “teeth-in-a-day,” patients may be limited to a liquid diet or stuck with weak plastic healing teeth for up to 10+ months. Breakage, food restrictions, and endless caution are the norm.
Nuvia changes that. You receive permanent zirconia teeth in just 24 hours — strong enough to begin a soft-food diet the very next day. No liquid-only phase, no waiting in temporary teeth.
On top of that, your care is handled under one roof: an oral surgeon, a restorative dentist, and a CRNA for anesthesia — all working together with an in-house lab. So if you have questions about what you’re eating or experiencing after getting dental implants, you know exactly who to call for well-rounded, expert guidance.
And the proof? Nuvia dental implants have a 99.13% success rate (higher than the 93.3-98% success rate reported by other studies(1)). That kind of track record makes following the food plan easier because you know your implants are secure.
Sample Soft-Food Day (Weeks 1–16)
Here is a sample of what someone could eat in a day following a soft-food diet:
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with applesauce
Lunch: Baked salmon flakes with mashed potatoes
Snack: Greek yogurt or a smoothie (without crunchy mix-ins)
Dinner: Soft pasta with creamy sauce and steamed carrots
Treat: Banana or pudding
Simple, satisfying, and easy on your healing implants.
“Teeth-in-a-Day”® vs. Permanent Teeth in 24 Hours
It’s important not to confuse these terms. “Teeth-in-a-day”® usually means walking out with temporary acrylic teeth that aren’t designed to last. Patients often spend the next 10+ months paying for adjustments, dealing with breakage, and coming back for multiple visits — all before they finally receive their permanent set.
Those extra months can come at a cost:
Time: Dozens of appointments stretched over nearly a year.
Money: Lab fees for “temporary” teeth (and extra ones if they break), and surprise add-ons most patients don’t expect.
Frustration: Taking time off work, living on caution, and paying again to replace what never should have been temporary in the first place.
Nuvia’s process is different. You receive your permanent zirconia teeth in just 24 hours — no drawn-out temporary phase, no surprise lab bills (everything is all-in-one: what you’re told is your complete investment), no endless cycle of repairs. One surgery, one set of permanent teeth, one transparent cost.
That’s why more patients are realizing the “cheap” or “quick fix” often end up being the more expensive way to go. With Nuvia, you can save months of hassle and potentially thousands in hidden costs — and start eating with confidence right away.
For more on dental implant cost, financing, and insurance questions, get the dental implant cost guide here.
Ready to Eat Without Worry Again?
By Thanksgiving, just a few months after getting her new smile, Sandy was sitting at the family table again — eating without worry and smiling without hiding. As a business owner, she also regained confidence at networking events, no longer ducking her head to avoid showing her teeth. “Life is better,” she told us. “I feel eighteen again.”
The same change could be possible for you. If you’re ready to get back to eating with confidence — not months from now, but starting the very next day with permanent zirconia teeth
Take the 60-second quiz to see if you may be a candidate.
Source: (1) Pjetursson, B. E., Thoma, D., Jung, R., Zwahlen, M., & Zembic, A. (2012). A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) after a mean observation period of at least 5 years. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 23(Suppl 6), 22-38.
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