For those who are dealing with missing teeth or those who want to replace missing teeth with an alternative prosthetic option that feels just as natural as their real teeth and closely resembles them in appearance, there is an option that offers that and more: dental implants.
However, when it comes to determining how successful the dental implant will be, one of the primary practices that can ensure longer-lasting times is the everyday, consistent care you put into your implants while they recuperate.
In this blog, we have assembled some tips and advice that can aid you during the post dental implant care process and extend the life of your dental implants.
Follow Your Dentist’s Instructions
After you’re done with the surgery processes, your dentist will talk with you and tell you some specific instructions related to the post-operative time period that are uniquely tailored to represent and cater to your case.
It’s highly advised that you follow the guidelines so that you can avoid any possible complications in the future and prioritize the healing of your prosthetic.
These instructions will be on topics like your diet and medication, oral hygiene practices, and restrictions to certain activities.
Manage Pain and Swelling
One of the first things that you’ll have a talk about with your dentist about post dental implant care is how you can best manage any discomforts or pains you might be undergoing, along with potential swelling issues.
Some of the ways to deal with it are through:
Medication: Your dentist may have prescribed you medicine to relieve your pain or have suggested some over-the-counter options to make things easier. You should take them as directed to decrease your discomfort and pain.
Cold Compress: One of the things that can bring you some physical ease is to apply a cold compress on the outside part of your face near the site of surgery for the first 24-48 hours after surgery, as it will help with the swelling and gives a numbing effect to the area which can help in alleviating pain.
Rest: Rest is one of the best things you can do for your pain and healing processes. After you get out of the surgery room, you should try to avoid any activities that can prove strenuous for at least 48 hours post-surgery to minimize swelling and bleeding.
Hydrate and Maintain a Soft Food Diet
During the first couple of days, you’ll be advised to stay with liquids and very soft foods like smoothies, yogurt, and applesauce for the time being. You’ll also need to avoid foods that are hot, high in spice, or acidic in nature. The same goes for beverages.
Gradually introduce semi-soft foods such as mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and soft pasta. Avoid chewing on the implant side to prevent dislodging the implant or irritating the surgical site. Of course, if you’re dealing with an entire implant denture, then you may have to avoid hard foods altogether.
Hydrate yourself: Your body also needs to be hydrated at all times, your overall health will thank you, and you will notice how much it helps with the healing process yourself, but at the same time, avoid using straws for the first couple of days because the sucking motion can disrupt the implant site and may even cause bleeding.
Avoid Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking: Nicotine is plain bad for you; it can narrow and constrict your blood vessels and restrict the amount of blood that is flowing towards the surgical site, where it’s needed most to encourage and nurture healing there and decrease the risk of implant failure due to bad blood flow.
It’s advised that you refrain from smoking for at least two weeks post-surgery or, preferably, quit altogether.
Alcohol: Alcohol is an interfering substance that can hamper any medications you take and has a dehydrating effect on the body, which, as we mentioned above, slows down how fast you heal. Avoid alcohol for at least a week or so.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
It goes without saying but you’ll still need to have consistent oral hygiene practices if infections are to be kept at bay and healing promoted. These practices are just basic instructions built upon the ones that most people are already familiar with:
Brushing: Brush your new permanent set of teeth with gentle strokes and motions twice a day, in the morning when you wake up and at night before bed, with a toothbrush that has soft bristles. Don’t brush the implant site at first; just gradually clean around that area or as directed by your dentist.
Mouth Rinse: An antibacterial mouthwash will do wonders for your oral hygiene. A saline solution (a mixture of 1 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of lukewarm water) to rinse your mouth after meals will also work wonders and maintain the cleanliness of the surgical site to reduce the risk of infection.
Avoid Disturbing the Surgical Site
Touching: Keep yourself from touching or poking the implant site with your tongue or fingers as much as you can because the act of touching can introduce foreign contaminating bacteria to the site and hamper healing.
Chewing: Foods that are tough or crunchy can become a difficult thing to add to your diet, if you do eat them, try not chew directly on the implant side until you’ve undergone complete healing and your dentist gives you the go-ahead.
Watch for Signs of Complications
Practicing consistent vigilance and keeping a watchful eye out for any complicating signs can help address issues as they pop up.
Infection: If you suspect that there is an infection developing in the site, you can ascertain that by checking the common symptoms, which include a persistent swelling that won’t go away, warmth and redness in the area, or a warning sign, the presence of pus at the implant site. If you notice some or all of these signs, you’ll need to get medical attention as soon as possible.
Prolonged Pain: As you walk out of the surgery room, feeling some discomfort is considered normal, and many people feel that, but if the pain persists beyond a few days or worsens, that’s enough cause for contacting your dentist because it might be a warning sign.
Implant Mobility: Again, you will feel some amount of foreignness due to the feeling of an alien prosthetic in your mouth, but if you feel a strong misalignment, or if the implant feels like it’s loose, or if you feel that there is some movement, that is also cause to seek dental advice immediately.
Attend Follow-Up Appointments
Consistent appointments to the clinic with your dentist can save you a number of problematic issues in the future, and it’s something that will bolster your implant’s healing process and ensure that the implant-bone integration is happening as it should.
Along with that, your dentist will keep an eye out for any complications that could pop up and make necessary adjustments to your care plan accordingly.
Conclusion
In this blog, we mentioned some instructive tips about post dental implant care that you can incorporate in your journey towards complete recuperation. We discussed everything from following the dentist’s instructions at the initial stages to consistently visiting the dentist’s office.
If you’re seeking a highly individualized assessment of your dental health by professionals who are proficient in post dental implant care, then call or visit us at Texas Implant Clinic in Plano, Texas. Schedule a consultation now!
