How To Care For Your Teeth After Dental Implant Surgery?
Dental implant surgery is the procedure of replacing your tooth root with a titanium screw. You need dental implant surgery to replace a damaged, decayed, or missing tooth.
You need to ensure that your surgery site is healed and that there are no problems in your recovery.
Tips For Dental Implants Surgery Aftercare
The best tips for dental implant surgery aftercare are:
Managing Swelling & Discomfort
Pain and swelling after dental implant surgery are normal. The dentist prescribes anti-inflammation and pain relievers to help with the pain. You can apply a cold press or an ice pack on your cheeks around the jawbone to reduce swelling. Continue doing this every 3-4 hours for 20 minutes on the first day of your surgery. Keep your head elevated to minimize pain. Sleep with some pillows beneath your head to avoid pain.
Eating & Drinking
After dental implant surgery, avoid foods that can hurt your tooth. Stick to a soft food diet to help your operation area recover. The best types of foods you can have are:
- Smoothies and natural fruit juice
- Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Oatmeal
- Poached fruits
- Poached, boiled, or scrambled eggs
- Smooth peanut butter
- Soft cheeses
Avoid foods that can get stuck between your teeth and hurt your operation wound. Hard foods like nuts, grains, crunchy fruits, and vegetables can harm your teeth and cause pain. Sticky foods like candy and syrup stick on the tooth and give way to decay and cavities.
Choose foods that are nutritious and filling during this period.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
A good oral hygiene routine is essential even after getting dental implants. Brush with fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your enamel and reduce the chances of bacteria accumulation. Use a soft-bristled brush and gentle strokes to clean your teeth. Avoid being rough with the cleaning, as it can cause bleeding. Heavy-scented dental cleaning products irritate your wound and make you feel uncomfortable.
Flossing daily ensures that food is not stuck between your teeth. Food accumulated between your teeth gets decayed, leading to cavities.
Several products available in the market can help you maintain a good oral hygiene routine. Fluoride-based mouthwashes and mechanical flossing machines make cleaning your mouth easier and more efficient.
Avoid Smoking & Alcohol
People are aware of the harmful effects of smoking and drinking on overall health. However, these two habits cause harm to your dental health too. Smoking releases chemicals into your mouth that can lead to decay and discoloration. Alcohol is acidic and irritates the operated wound. Your body needs time to heal from the operation. Avoid smoking and drinking till your dental implant wound heals.
The Bottom Line
Dental implants are a long-term investment. Maintaining a good oral routine ensures your dental implants last a long time. Contact your dentist if you think something is wrong with your dental implants. Always put your dental health first to avoid it affecting your overall health.
