How to Care For Dental Implants After The Surgery?
Losing a tooth is problematic to your appearance, confidence, and jaw alignment. The void between teeth happens due to mishaps like losing a tooth due to an accident or losing a baby tooth early. Other reasons like trauma, aging, etc., also make you lose your teeth.
Out of all the solutions present, the most realistic and lasting option is a dental implant. Dental implants are mini-screws made of titanium that are placed in your jawbone via surgery. The implants act as artificial tooth roots and anchor artificial teeth into place.
Are the gaps in your teeth worrying you? Our Dental implants will curb your tensions!
The surgery takes around two hours to finish, and after three months, the tooth replacement is fully done. But only a brief stay in the dental office isn’t enough to have your gorgeous smile back. Aftercare measures are essential to gain the optimum result of your dental implant surgery and successful tooth placement.
Steps to care for your dental implants
- Change your Toothbrush
A hard-bristled toothbrush will scratch your implant and strain the finish. This is why we recommend that you use a soft-bristled brush that will be gentle and one that is pliable. A nylon toothbrush is recommended as it is very soft. To reach the hard-to-clean areas on your dental implants, a Proxabrush is the best!
The ideal practice is to brush your teeth regularly and floss them twice a day.
Of course, dental implant surgery can be a good excuse not to floss. However, flossing is needed the most when you have one. When you avoid flossing, plaque gradually accumulates surrounding your implants. Plaque accumulation can cause adversity to oral hygiene.
- Avoid Food items that are hard or sticky.
Similar to a hard-bristled toothbrush, food items that are hard or sticky hurt your implants and also damage the opposing teeth. A sticky food item will get stuck on your dental implants, and to remove it, you will brush your teeth harder and scratch the implants.
Some foods you should avoid are apples, steak, caramel, dried fruit, bread, carrots, etc.
- Don’t use harsh products.
Avoid using harsh flavors and food items when you have dental implants. Instead, use mild mouthwash or toothpaste that doesn’t react to your implants, as solid flavors like cinnamon and mint might respond to the metal and cause discomfort.
- Don’t smoke or consume alcohol.
Alcohol and Cigarettes are strong food items that slow down the healing process and are harmful to your overall oral health. For at least the first three days after the surgery, your implants are sensitive and need time rebuilding bone cells, blood vessels, and tissues. Consuming alcohol and tobacco will hamper the process. Technically, blood clots form during the healing process (necessary for healing), and smoking can dry up the tooth sockets which complicates the whole procedure and thus, should be avoided.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
In general, dental care is the epitome of your beautiful smile and your healthy oral hygiene. That is why a visit to the dentist at least twice a year is essential. The gaps in your teeth may be filled with dental implants and tooth placement, but there are several other dental hygiene issues that we don’t realize are present.
Also, your dental implants give up when you don’t care for them essentially. To make them last forever, regular care and professional review direct you to healthy oral health.
- Care for the after effects
It is common to experience discomfort for a little while after the surgery. But you’ll feel normal after some time. In general cases, the implants will cause pain, and there will be swelling that goes away after a day. You can follow the below steps to be comfortable after your dental implant surgery.
- Bite on sponges or tea bags if there is bleeding in your mouth.
- Keep your head elevated, and don’t move around too much for the first 8-12 hours after the surgery.
- Stick to beverages and soft food items for the first 24 hours post-surgery.
- Avoid rinsing your mouth until 24 hours after the surgery is over.
- Hold an ice pack to your face and take breaks as needed to curb your pain and swelling.
- Take the medicines as prescribed and make sure to get lots of rest.
Note: Ask someone to accompany you for implant surgery to rest when heading back home after the surgery is done.
And if you’re looking for a Dental Implant service in Concord, NC, FRESHDental is your solution!