What Can You Eat After LANAP® Gum Surgery?
LANAP® gum surgery is easier than traditional periodontal surgeries and heals faster, but knowing what you can eat afterward is still essential to aid in proper healing.
Before we get to what you can and can’t eat following a laser-assisted new attachment procedure, we’ll explain why dentists and periodontists limit certain foods in this blog.
Gum disease, AKA periodontal disease, should never be ignored—it’s typically the result of infection of the gums and bone surrounding and supporting the teeth. Unfortunately, it’s a disease that only gets worse if untreated.
Some shocking statistics…
According to the CDC…Click to open source in a new window…; more than 47% of Americans over 30 have some form of periodontal disease, and about 70% of adults 65 years and older have it!
What starts as swollen, red, or bleeding gums can become receding gums, bone loss, and eventually tooth loss.
In this blog, we’ll help you navigate what to expect:
- What is LANAP® treatment?
- How does the procedure work?
- What can you eat after LANAP® gum laser surgery?
- When can you eat normally after LANAP®?
So, what is LANAP®?
LANAP® stands for Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure. It’s an FDA-cleared treatment…Click to read more in a new window… that uses laser therapy to treat gum disease and promote gum and bone regeneration.
The New Attachment in the name refers to how the treatment encourages the binding of healthy gum tissue to the mouth’s bone. After removing the infection and diseased tissue, your body has a chance to heal naturally without the need for scalpels or sutures.
How does laser gum surgery work?
- LANAP® usually takes two 2-hour visits. A specialist works on one side of the mouth at the first visit and the other on the next.
- A laser gently removes disease-causing bacteria between the gums and teeth.
- The ultrasonic waves loosen bacterial deposits, which are then flushed away with a special antibacterial rinse.
- Once complete, the healthy gum tissue remains and has a chance to heal and regenerate over time.
While it’s a painless, in-office procedure, you need to follow your dentist’s or periodontist’s post-op instructions to ensure successful healing at home.
The procedure uses advanced dental technology; only qualified dentists and periodontists can perform LANAP®. They complete a one-year training at the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry…Click to open a new window to the IALD website… with in-depth, hands-on instruction.
What can you eat after LANAP® gum surgery? (See our recommended foods list.)
LANAP® specialists don’t limit diets just for fun; they do it because they know what’s best for you in the long run!
Here’s a list of recommended foods after LANAP® laser surgery. We’ve broken them down by the number of days following your treatment.
1-3 Days Post Surgery: Liquid Diet
Follow a liquid diet to allow your body to heal. The liquid helps protect the blood clots, which work like Band-aids between your teeth and gums, to aid in healing.
Do NOT drink through a straw because this can create a vacuum that disrupts the healing clots.
- Use a blender, food processor, or juicer
- The liquid diet doesn’t have to be clear
- Pureed fruits or vegetables (NO SEEDS!)
- Some soups may be okay
4-6 Days Post Surgery: Mushy Foods
Foods that have gone through the blender should be okay—just avoid seeds. Below are a few examples of mushy food ideas.
- Applesauce
- Cream of Wheat
- Oatmeal
- Smoothies
- Pudding
- Yogurt
- Jello©
- Ice cream
- Select soups
- Protein drinks
- Cottage cheese
- Soft cheeses
- Eggs
- Creamy peanut butter (no chunks)
- Mashed steamed vegetables
- Mashed potatoes
7-10 Days Post Surgery: Mushy to Soft Foods
Choose mushy to soft foods, for example:
- Soft fish or chicken
- Steamed vegetables
- Pasta
- Tofu
- Stew
11+ Days After Surgery: Ease Back into Smart Eating
Following the initial week and a half, you can gradually add regular foods back into your diet but keep it smart. You should still avoid a few items that can lodge between your gums and teeth.
Foods to Avoid Days 1-30
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Popcorn
- Chewing gum
- Candy
- Cookies
- Hard foods
- Crunchy foods
- Chips
- Hard granola bars
- Raw vegetables
- Shredded meat
These post-LANAP® diet recommendations will help recovery. However, you may also wonder what you cannot do after LANAP® gum surgery.
A few extra tips: avoid brushing near the treatment site and avoid drinking through a straw until your provider says it’s allowed. Don’t smoke, and avoid strenuous activity for a few days.
Follow your provider’s aftercare instructions, and don’t hesitate to contact them with any concerns or questions.
When can you eat normally after LANAP®?
Even though laser gum surgery is noninvasive with no cutting or stitching, your mouth still needs time to heal after the treatment.
To do this, we recommend following a special diet on days 1-10 and then gradually incorporating certain soft, nutritious foods that aid during recovery. Please refer to our recommended food list.
Schedule a LANAP® consultation in White Plains, NY.
Untreated gum disease can lead to receding gums, bone loss, and tooth loss. But modern dentistry makes it easier to treat and manage.
Turn to your Westchester County dentists for LANAP® gum treatments. If caught early, gum disease can be reversed and managed under your dentist’s care, so don’t delay.
Book your visit today.
Or contact us by:
- Calling us and talking with one of our friendly team members
- Emailing us
Dental Group of Westchester is conveniently located in White Plains, NY…Click to open directions in Google Maps on a new window…. We happily welcome new patients from neighboring communities, including Westchester County, New York City, Bronx, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
