What Your Dentist Wants You to Know About Dental Implant Aftercare

Investing in dental implants can be the healthiest thing that you can do for your dental health. Replacing missing teeth is necessary. Dental implants are the gold standard in dental replacements. Knowing how to care for your new implants can improve your oral health for a long time. Here are some pointers that you must know about proper aftercare for your new dental implants.

What to do right away

Aftercare will start as soon as the patient gets the implants. Avoid hot drinks and foods because the temperature will stress the mouth tissues even more. Wait for these soft tissues to heal a little before enjoying hot foods and drinks. Drink cold water for the first days. This helps with swelling, bleeding, and pain.

Maintaining a clean mouth that is free from bacteria is the goal during recovery. Keep fingers out of the mouth. Use a warm saltwater solution as a mouthwash. This solution can lower bacterial activity in the mouth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush when brushing the neighboring teeth. Wait a few days before brushing or flossing around the implant site.

On bleeding

Expect some minor bleeding after getting dental implants. The dentist may ask the patient to apply pressure on the implant site. Do so by biting down on a sterile gauze pad for about one hour. Remove the pad as gently as possible. Get a new gauze pad and repeat this for another 30 minutes. Bite on tea bags because they have tannic acid that can help clot the blood.

Refrain from rinsing the mouth for a while. Stop sucking through straws or spitting. These activities may disturb and dislodge the clotted blood in the implant site. This could cause bleeding.

On swelling

Bruising or swelling after getting dental implants is natural. There will be swelling a day after the implant procedure. It will reach its peak after two to three days. Reduce the swelling by holding ice packs wrapped in a cloth to the cheek of the implant placement. Apply the ice pack for 20 minutes and rest the area for 10 minutes. Applying moist heat on the cheek while resting can bring back blood circulation and help reduce swelling.

On pain

There will be mild pain after getting dental implants. The dentist may suggest taking pain relievers before the anesthetic fades. Then, take them according to the dentist’s instructions or the first two days after the implant surgery. Over-the-counter pain relievers will be enough for this type of pain.

On drinking and eating

Staying hydrated is important after getting dental implants. Do not consume spicy foods or alcohol. These substances can irritate the tissues. It is ideal to wait for the anesthesia to fade first before eating anything. Choosing healthy foods can make the site heal faster. The nutrients can help the dental implants fuse better with the jawbone and gum tissues.