Bone grafting is often a crucial step for preparing your jaw for dental implants, so naturally, you’ll want to take whatever steps you can to make sure that the procedure is successful. There are multiple factors that could potentially have an impact on the outcome, not the least of which are the foods you eat and your everyday habits. If you want to help the healing process go as smoothly as possible after bone grafting, it’s a good idea to follow these simple diet and lifestyle tips.
Diet and Bone Grafting
Once bone grafting is complete, the grafting material is gradually integrated into the jaw, and new bone tissue is generated. To ensure that this process is successful, your diet should include plenty of the following nutrients:
- Calcium for rebuilding the bone.
- Vitamin D for allowing your body to absorb calcium.
- Protein for tissue repair.
- Vitamin C for creating the collagen that’s needed to give the bone structure.
- Magnesium for bone mineralization.
It’s important to plan your diet carefully so that you can get the nutrients required for successful bone healing. In general, you should eat plenty of leafy greens such as spinach, lean proteins such as chicken, and foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon.
Note that until your jaw has fully recovered from bone grafting, you should make a point of avoiding alcoholic beverages. One of the side effects of alcohol is that it can inhibit bone regeneration, thereby increasing the risk of bone grafting failure.
Lifestyle and Bone Grafting
If you smoke, it’s highly recommended that you stop after your bone grafting procedure until your recovery is complete. The nicotine in cigarettes can potentially slow down the healing process, and it can make infection more likely to occur.
On top of that, you should make sure you get plenty of rest for the first few weeks following your surgery. It’s best to avoid strenuous exercise during the initial recovery period in order to prevent unnecessary bleeding and swelling. That being said, some light walking can aid the healing process by encouraging better blood circulation.
Finally, it’s essential to get any feelings of stress under control. Stress causes your body to release cortisol, which can interfere with bone regeneration. Try taking up yoga or other activities designed to help manage stress.
The right diet and lifestyle habits can make all the difference for the success of bone grafting. If you have any questions or concerns about how your everyday habits could be impacting your recovery, don’t hesitate to let your periodontist know.
About the Author
Dr. David Handsman initially studied dentistry at Temple University, and he earned a Masters of Dental Surgery in periodontology at the University of Tennessee. He belongs to various professional organizations, including the Massachusetts Periodontal Society. At Handsman & Haddad Periodontics in Worcester, he offers a variety of advanced procedures, including bone grafting. If you think you may need to have a bone graft performed before getting dental implants, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Handsman by visiting his website or calling (508) 753-5444.
