Receiving dental implants is a major procedure that requires plenty of healing time for success. If you’re in need of dental implants in New Orleans, LA, it’s crucial that you follow your dentist’s post-operative instructions. Failing to take good care of your new dental implants can lead to further dental problems.
This guide includes important dental implant aftercare tips. Be sure to follow your dentist’s advice following oral surgery for the best results.
Receiving and Recovering From Dental Implant Surgery
If you’re missing one or several teeth and want to restore confidence in your smile, dental implants can give you a brighter, healthier smile. This procedure involves attaching a titanium post to your jawbone which will serve as the new root of your tooth. Dentists then place an abutment and crown over the implant so that you have full tooth function again.
This surgery is an excellent solution for anyone with missing teeth due to chronic conditions or poor dental care. However, you need to be proactive about caring for your implants after the procedure. Below is a breakdown of dental implant aftercare tips you should follow.
Use a Medicated Mouthwash
You’re susceptible to infection immediately after receiving dental implants. That’s why dentists recommend rinsing your mouth with a medicated mouthwash for the first few days after the procedure. This antiseptic solution will kill all bacteria around the implant site so you can avoid a nasty infection.
Don’t swish or spit with the mouthwash because this can put excess stress on sensitive mouth tissue. An effective way to prevent infection is to hold the mouthwash over the implant site rather than swishing it around your mouth.
Brush Your Teeth with an Extra-Soft Toothbrush
One of the most important dental implant aftercare tips is to adjust your toothbrush. If you use a brush with hard bristles, it can scratch the implant and lead to damage. Using a nylon brush with soft bristles will protect your implants long-term.
If you’re having trouble brushing hard-to-reach places, you can also use a Proxabrush to get rid of food residue. Be sure to brush twice a day along with flossing for optimum oral hygiene.
Avoid Hard-to-Chew Foods
It can be hard to resist some of your favorite foods after surgery. However, avoiding crunchy and sticky foods is a key part of dental implant aftercare. Consuming crunchy foods like apples, potato chips, and even ice chips can damage your implant and the surrounding teeth.
Chewy, sticky foods like caramel, hard candies, and dried fruit are equally harmful to new implants. You may have a harder time cleaning your teeth after eating these types of foods. Consult with your dentist for a list of foods that are safe to eat immediately after your surgery and in the weeks and months that follow.
Don’t Smoke or Drink Alcohol
Recovering from dental implant surgery can take a while. If you want to have your implants last for many years without issue, it’s critical that you avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Tobacco can be detrimental to your oral and dental health so dentists urge all patients to avoid smoking. It can be especially harmful if you have dental implants that need to heal.
Consuming alcohol can also impact the dental implant recovery time and slow the healing process. Staying away from these substances can improve your overall health as well as the longevity of your dental implants.
Contact Dental Arts of New Orleans for Superior Care
Exactly how long do implants take to heal? If you follow these dental implant aftercare tips, you’ll speed up the recovery time and can enjoy your new teeth for many years to come. The team at Dental Arts of New Orleans can guide you through every step of the process. Contact our office to learn more about dental implants and if they’re right for you. Call (504) 394-5330 to schedule an appointment.
