Taking Care of Your Dental Implant
Menasha, WI
 Dental implants have become a standard medical treatment for people with missing or decayed teeth. Since this titanium-based dental equipment is designed as a natural replacement for tooth loss, it functions and looks similar to your real teeth as well. Just as it is essential to be mindful of your natural teeth, taking care of your dental implants is just as crucial to avoid plaque and bacteria.
Aftercare Post-Surgery
After getting dental implants, you need to take special care of your mouth for the next seven days. You may also experience some pain and swelling in the first twenty-four hours, which is why it’s best to make sure you follow the given instructions:
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Avoid moving your head unnecessarily and keep it elevated as much as possible.
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Place an ice pack to your face over the affected area in fifteen-minute intervals to numb the pain.
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Favor a soft diet instead of chewing on hard and crunchy food items. Avoid hot and cold food and drinks during the first week to prevent swelling. |
Use Nylon Toothbrushes
Nylon toothbrushes have bristles that don’t scratch your dental implants or cause pain in the operated area while brushing your teeth. It’s vital to gently brush the implant after surgery to prevent any accumulation of bacteria.
Keep Flossing
Flossing is a significantly vital part of taking care of your dental implant since it keeps plaque and bacteria from accumulating around them.
Consider Using a Mouth Rinse
Rinsing your mouth after eating or drinking a beverage also ensures all bacteria and food are washed out from around the implant, preventing any possible pain.
Make Use of a Recommended Oral Irrigator
You can also invest in a dentist-recommended oral irrigator, which is a device that sprays an adequately pressured stream of water at your teeth to remove food particles. It also helps to reduce bleeding and chances of catching gum disease. However, it’s essential to remember that using an oral irrigator is not a replacement for brushing or flossing.
Avoid Alcohol and Smoking
Consuming alcohol and smoking after getting dental implants only serves to slow down the healing process. That’s why it is recommended to avoid these habits, at least until the implant is perfectly healed.
Eliminate Certain Foods from Your Diet
It’s best to avoid hard and chewy food items when your implants are still in the healing process. Cutting off severely hot and cold food items from your diet can also work in your favor for healing your dental implants successfully.
At Mid Valley Dental, our patient’s comfort is our first and foremost priority. If you think a dental implant might just be right for you to replace your missing teeth and smile, please feel free to give us a call at (920) 215-4160 to schedule an initial consultation session with our experienced dental expert, Michael J. Wockenfus, DDS.
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