Dental implants provide people with a long-term solution to restore missing teeth, improve their bite, and enhance their overall oral health. However, the success of a dental implant procedure doesn’t only rely on a dentist’s expertise in placing it but also on the patient’s commitment to recovery. The implant placement process is only the beginning, and a patient may experience discomfort during the healing process. To ensure the best possible outcome, here are the do’s and don’ts of dental implant recovery.

Do’s of Dental Implant Recovery

1. Follow your dentist’s instructions: After a dental implant surgery, your dentist will give you a list of instructions to follow. These instructions will generally include things like avoiding hard and crunchy foods, smoking cessation, and prescription medication recommendations. It’s essential to follow these instructions carefully and ask questions to ensure your understanding.
2. Take care of your oral hygiene: Keeping your mouth clean is always crucial, especially after an implant surgery. Besides brushing your teeth twice a day, you should also rinse your mouth with warm saltwater several times a day. This will help kill bacteria and promote healing.
3. Rest properly: After the surgery, taking sufficient rest is essential. Avoid any strenuous activities, and rest with your head elevated to reduce swelling.
4. Eat soft foods: Dental implant surgery causes tenderness and swelling of the gums and surrounding tissues. Therefore, it is essential to stick to a soft diet for several days after the surgery. Smoothies, soups, and mashed potatoes are good options.
5. Use Ice packs: Ice packs can help control swelling, inflammation, and pain. Apply ice packs or a cold compress to your cheek for 10-20 minutes at a time, repeating this process several times a day.

Don’ts of Dental Implant Recovery

1. Don’t Use Straws: After an implant surgery, avoid using straws because it can cause additional problems. The sucking motion can cause the blood clot to dislodge from the surgical wound and delay the healing process.
2. Don’t Smoke: Smoking decreases the body’s ability to heal, and it can lead to implant failure. It’s best to refrain from smoking for several weeks after implant surgery.
3. Don’t rush the healing process: Remember that dental implant recovery takes time, and there is no shortcut to it. If you don’t allow enough time for the implant to integrate with the bone, your implant may fail.
4. Don’t eat hard or crunchy foods: Eating hard or crunchy foods can easily damage the implant and may cause discomfort. Avoid foods like nuts, popcorn, and hard candy until your implant is fully healed.

If you follow the do’s and don’ts outlined in this article, you will significantly improve your chances of successful dental implant recovery. It’s important to note that everyone heals at a different rate, and recovery will vary according to the complexity of your dental implant procedure. Therefore, if you experience any pain that is not manageable with the prescribed pain relief medication or any swelling that doesn’t go down, you should contact your dentist immediately.

To ensure that you receive the best possible care, it’s essential to choose a reputable dental provider like New Smiles Dental. New Smiles Dental is a trusted provider of dental implants and has decades of experience in providing dental implant surgery. They offer state-of-the-art technology in implant dentistry and have a team of highly trained professionals. To schedule an appointment or learn more about dental implants and implant recovery, contact New Smiles Dental today!