Dental implants are considered the golden standard in tooth replacement, but their success depends in no small part on how you take care of them after they are placed. Dental implants are intended to be a long-term investment that brings decades of benefits to your overall health, and their failure can be a significant health setback. Here are a few habits to avoid during the healing process.
Avoid Using a Straw
Drinking through a straw creates significant shifts in pressure within the mouth. This can disrupt the healing process by dislodging the blood clot forming at the implant site, leading to a severely painful condition called dry socket. You should also avoid carbonated beverages that can irritate the surgical site.
Skip Hot or Hard Foods
It’s best to stick to a soft diet for a few days after dental implant surgery. Hot or spicy foods can irritate the surgical site, and foods that require extensive chewing can stress your new implant. Take care to chew on the side of the mouth opposite from your dental implant to allow it a few days to heal without any disruptions.
Stay Away from Intense Exercise
The Increased blood flow that comes with intense physical activity can cause bleeding around the implant area. Avoid strenuous exercise for the first two or three days after dental implant surgery and set aside more time for rest until your dentist gives you the go-ahead.
Take It Easy on the Rinsing
Avoid vigorously rinsing your mouth for the first two days after receiving dental implants. Rinsing too much can irritate the implant site and result in bleeding. When using mouthwash, gently swish it around your mouth and take care not to spit it out. Simply let the liquid fall out of your mouth over the sink.
Quit Smoking
Tobacco use is among the leading causes of implant failure. Smoking hinders the mouth’s healing process because it causes the gums to harden and restricts blood flow. This makes the gums more susceptible to infection while also interfering with the process of osseointegration, by which the implant fuses with the jawbone. Smoking is to be avoided for a few months after implant surgery, making this period a great time to kick the habit for good.
Dental implants have an incredible 95% success rate after twenty years, and practicing good aftercare can keep yours in that happy majority. Following these recommendations as well as any further instructions from your dentist will provide you with be best conditions for recovery.
About the Practice
Indianapolis Family Dentistry provides custom-tailored dental treatments to the community of Indianapolis, IN. Led by Drs. Mark Farthing and Armin Tepner, the dedicated staff compassionately provides the best service available for all a patient’s oral health needs. The practice offers general, pediatric, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry in addition to dental implants. For more information on dental implant aftercare, contact the office online or dial (317) 898-3384.