Dental implants are a common way to replace missing teeth. Dental implants can protect your jaw from deterioration, give you a more natural facial appearance and fix various alignment problems. If you take care of them, your dental implants can last a lifetime.
Although dental implants come with many benefits, they still need proper maintenance, especially during the post-operation period. Dental implants are attached directly to your gum, so it’s important to keep the gum and bone in the area healthy.
It’s common to experience pain and swelling after getting your dental implants affixed. However, if you don’t deal with these side effects properly, they may worsen into other health problems. Check out the following five tips to protect your smile after dental implant surgery!
1. Pay Attention To Your Hygiene
Dentists don’t recommend brushing the surgical site since brushing may open a wound and allow bacteria to invade the area. Try using a gentle mouthwash instead while your mouth is healing. You can also try a warm-salt water rinse to help keep your mouth clean without irritating the surgical site.
If you have lots of pain and swelling, your dentist can recommend a product that will help diminish your suffering. Avoid experimenting with over-the-encounter gels unless your oral hygienist recommends a product to use.
2. Quit Smoking Today
You need to stop smoking. Every dental implant specialist will confirm how harmful cigarettes are to your dental implants. Smoking deprives your gums of oxygen and delays the healing process. If you smoke after your procedure, you’re risking injury to your gums and infection.
Cigarettes also contain many toxic chemicals that interfere with your body’s ability to accept the dental implants. If you’re going to spend the time and money getting dental implants, don’t ruin it by smoking.
3. Get Familiar With The Procedure
Before going under the knife, make sure you take the time to get familiar with the dental implant procedure. Your dentist should consult with you to make sure there aren’t any potential complications with the procedure.
For example, if you suffer from heart abnormalities or irregular blood flow, you need to alert your dentist. These health complications can make it easier for bacteria to thrive in your body. People with heart problems have an increased risk of developing dangerous infections after undergoing the dental implant procedure.
4. Adjust Your Eating Habits
After surgery, try and include only soft foods and drinks in your diet. Crunchy items that need a lot of chewing can open the wounds at the incision site which causes bleeding and swelling.
Diet is one of the most significant factors that impact your ability to heal after getting dental implants. Your gums will be extremely sensitive after the procedure, so it’s important to avoid irritating the area with hard food. Simply cutting your gums can lead to infection.
5. Take Your Medications Consistently
Following the instructions that your dentist gives to you is crucial to the success of the implant process. Following your dentists’ instructions will speed up your recovery, safeguards your implants and prevent complications from developing.
Painkillers and antibiotics are the most common prescriptions you’ll receive after the dental implant procedures. Taking the medications regularly and on time will help to accelerate your healing.
Proper post-surgical care is all you need to help your dental implants last. The above tips will help you minimize pain and help your body adapt to the dental implants. Use these tips to your advantage to help maintain your beautiful smile!
