Dental implants are an incredibly effective way to replace missing, diseased, or damaged teeth. They look and work just like your natural teeth but are stronger and resistant to decay and disease. However, just because they aren’t your natural teeth doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care for them as if they were your own. In order to maintain your new smile, here are the do’s and don’ts of dental implant aftercare.
The DO’s and DON’Ts of Recovering from Surgery
The recovery period of your procedure is as crucial as the surgery itself and has a significant impact on the success and longevity of your implants. Make sure you’re following your dentist’s instructions after recovery.
After your procedure, your mouth may be too sensitive for your normal oral hygiene routine, but maintaining cleanliness is very important while the implant site is healing. Your dentist will have specific advice on how and where you should brush to help you heal and recover as soon as possible. Additionally, it’s crucial that you are getting plenty of rest and are eating soft foods rich in vitamins. Finally, take your medication as prescribed.
In the days following your dental implant surgery, you should avoid strenuous exercise or lifting heavy objects. In terms of your diet, you shouldn’t drink or eat anything too hot, sticky, or crunchy. Finally, don’t resort to old habits. Smoking can disrupt your healing process and increase the risk of implant failure or infection. Alcohol can interfere with antibiotics and pain medications that your dentist may have prescribed.
The DO’s of Dental Implant Care
In order to extend the life of your dental implants, you should carefully maintain them. Here is what you can do to ensure their longevity:
- DO use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean your teeth and where the implant meets your gums at least twice a day, especially after eating.
- DO floss regularly twice a day. It can be helpful to invest in a Waterpik flosser to lower your risk of gingivitis and get those hard-to-reach places.
- DO use an antibacterial mouthwash with your normal oral hygiene routine.
- DO make sure your toothpaste is not very abrasive.
- DO use utensils to cut your food into smaller pieces rather than biting and ripping using your teeth.
- DO schedule your regular dental cleanings and exams at least twice a year.
The DON’Ts of Dental Implant Care
After getting dental implants, you should avoid the following:
- DON’T use whitening toothpastes or ones that contain baking soda or activated charcoal.
- DON’T use your teeth as tools to open packages, bottles, or cans.
- DON’T smoke.
- DON’T eat anything too hard or sticky. Even after healing, you should avoid foods such as popcorn, gummy or hard candies, caramel apples, taffy, and seeds.
About the Practice
At Kemper Meadow Family Dentistry, we provide high quality, gentle, and comprehensive dental services to the Forest Park area. Dr. Alexandra Kulwin and Dr. Jasmina Maric use cutting-edge technology and partner with local oral surgeons to bring back your lifelike smile with dental implants. If you’re looking to replace missing teeth and restore your quality of life with dental implants, contact Kemper Meadow Family Dentistry through their website or by phone at (513) 648-9900.