What to Avoid if You Have Dental Implants

Using dental implants to replace missing teeth is a great alternative to using dentures. The implants look more like natural teeth and they do not move around in the mouth, which impacts the ability to chew or speak properly. Despite the fact that they are as close to real teeth as one can get, there are some things to avoid after getting the implants.

How to avoid damaging your dental implants

After dental implants have been successfully fused to the gums, some of the things to avoid are:

Solid food

This is very important, especially right after the surgery. Instead of eating solid foods, patients are advised to eat soft foods for the first few days after the surgery. Foods that should be eaten after surgery include applesauce, mashed potatoes, bananas, oatmeal and pudding. The dentist will recommend eating these types of foods for the first few days after surgery to prevent food particles from getting lodged in the wound

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol after dental implant surgery should be avoided because the alcohol can slow down the healing and increase the pain and swelling that occur after the surgery

Tobacco

Just like alcohol, tobacco use will have a negative impact on dental implants because the carcinogens in tobacco products can lead to gum disease, which will prevent the implants from healing properly

Hot Foods

Hot beverages like tea or coffee can negatively impact healing after dental implant surgery and cause inflammation

Avoid Straws

Using straws to consume soft foods might seem like the best option after surgery, but it is not ideal because the straws create a vacuum that puts a lot of strain on the dental implants, slowing down the healing process

Other post-surgery tips

In addition to avoiding these things, there are other tips that can help after dental implant surgery, which include:

Not touching the affected area

After surgery, there is a tendency to want to touch the part of the gums where the incision was made to see if it is healing. However, dentists recommend not touching the incision or surrounding area to avoid infecting it or opening up the sutures used to keep the wound closed

Keeping the mouth clean

Dentists advise their patients to avoid using toothpaste and mouthwash for the first few days after getting dental implants. They might prevent the implants from fusing properly. Instead, they recommend using warm water mixed with a teaspoon of salt to rinse the mouth daily

Taking medication

Getting dental implants does not hurt a lot, but there is still some pain. That is why dentists prescribe medication after the surgery is complete. Patients are advised to use the medication as directed to relieve the pain

Conclusion

Dental implants improve the appearance of your teeth and help to preserve your facial structure. But, there are a few things to avoid to prevent the surgery from failing. If you are interested in undergoing dental implant surgery, ask your dentist for some more tips on what to do before and what to avoid after the surgery.

Call our Leawood, KS, dental office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

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