Dental implants are amazing prosthetic devices that can be used to replace lost teeth with gorgeous and lifelike restorations, and they are placed through a specialized surgical process designed to securely anchor them in the jawbone. Implants can potentially last for decades if they receive excellent care, and the healing period after surgery is crucial to ensuring their long-term health. Here’s a quick look at what you should do in the days after receiving your dental implants.
What Should I Do After Receiving Dental Implants?
It’s important to strictly adhere to your dentist’s aftercare instructions after receiving dental implants. These will probably include items like:
- Practicing excellent oral hygiene while taking care to be careful when cleaning near the implant sites.
- Taking prescribed or over-the-counter medications as instructed.
- Rinsing with warm saltwater every few hours to reduce inflammation.
- Sticking to a soft, mild diet to protect your vulnerable gum tissues. You may resume eating tougher fare when you find you can do so comfortably.
What Should I Avoid After Receiving Dental Implants?
It’s also important to refrain from certain foods, drinks, and habits while recovering after dental implant surgery. Take care to stay away from:
- Sugary foods and beverages: These can feed harmful oral bacteria that can cause nasty and painful infections.
- Acidic foods and beverages: These can erode enamel and irritate gum tissue.
- Smoking: Tobacco use in any form will expose the gum tissue to noxious chemicals that make it harder for them to heal and fight infection.
- Alcohol: Alcohol is acidic and has a dehydrating effect. This will make it more difficult for your body to heal and fight infections.
- Spitting or drinking through a straw: These actions can cause sudden pressure shifts in the mouth that can disturb the clot forming over the surgical wound. If this clot is displaced or destroyed, it will result in a severely painful condition called dry socket that will make the patient more vulnerable to infection.
- Intense exercise: Working out too vigorously can be stressful on the body, which can make it difficult for the gum tissues to heal and fight infection.
Dental implants are an excellent way to restore your smile after tooth loss. Consulting with your dentist can help you understand how to rebuild your grin.
About the Author
Dr. Russell O’Connell earned his dental degree at the University of New England College of Dental Medicine and has completed extensive postgraduate training. His office in Califon offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as implant services. To learn more about the dental implant process, contact the office online or dial (908) 975-1269.