Dos And Don'ts Of Dental Implants

If you have teeth that are missing, you may find yourself thinking about whether or not you want to get a dental prosthesis. One of the best dental prosthesis options available to you is a dental implant. If you plan to get yourself a dental implant, there are some facts that you should know about the dos and the don'ts of getting these dental prosthetics. Then, you can be prepared for your dental implant procedure.

Do Practice Good Oral Hygiene Before and After the Procedure

When you are planning to get a dental implant, you need to be sure that you follow good oral hygiene both before and after the procedure. Getting a dental implant means that you are having surgery. It is a minor surgical procedure, but it is surgery nonetheless.

Because the dental implant procedure is a surgery, you cannot have an infection in your mouth at the time of the operation. One of the best ways to avoid an infection in the mouth is to brush and floss at least twice a day prior to the procedure.

Once the surgery is over, you want to avoid infection at the implant site. As such, you will want to gently brush around the incision (as well as in the rest of your mouth) and floss your teeth (with the exception of at the incision site while it heals).

Don't Smoke

One of the worst things you can do for your oral health in general is smoke. Smoking can cause serious tissue damage in the mouth, lead to infections, and otherwise cause issues with your oral health.

Smoking also constricts the blood vessels in your mouth, which can be particularly problematic when you have a surgery like getting dental implants. This habit can cause infections, lead to the body rejecting the implant, and otherwise make the procedure more difficult than it has to be.

Do Plan to Take It Easy for a Few Days

If you want your dental implant incision to heal properly, you will want to plan to take it easy for a few days after you have the procedure done, especially when it comes to eating.

Plan to eat a healthy diet but stick with soft foods for several days. Unsweetened applesauce, for example, is a good option. You could also try to stick to soups that are not particularly chunky and the like. If you do have soup, make sure it is not hot but is warm or even cold instead as hot foods can cause increased pain. This only needs to last for a day or two, just to allow your incision to remain as clean and free of food particles as possible.

In addition to taking it easy on food, you will want to take it easy in general after dental implant surgery. Plan to avoid strenuous activity for around 3 to 5 days after you have had your procedure. This may include activities like running or lifting heavy objects. It is also a good idea to plan to take at least one or two days off work for recovery. Your face will be sore and swollen for several days following the procedure, and you may not be able to talk easily or comfortably at first.

Now that you know some of the dos and don'ts of getting dental implants, you can contact your dentist to schedule your appointment as soon as possible.