Dental Implant Care Tips

There is no doubt that dental implants have revolutionized the way in which we view replacing missing teeth, that have been lost or extracted through damage or decay. This unique and highly successful treatment enables patients to restore their smile with a prosthetic that looks and feels completely natural while also being the most secure and durable of any restoration to date.

Nevertheless, taking good care of your dental implants is essential if you want them to look good and function properly for as long as possible. With the right care and attention at home, as well as regular professional maintenance, dental implants could potentially last you for life, making them a fantastic investment in your smile.

 

Caring for your dental implants directly after your surgery

After your dental implant surgery, your mouth will inevitably be sore and swollen. Receiving dental implants is a highly invasive process that involves drilling down into the jaw bone to place the titanium posts that will form the artificial roots of your prosthetic teeth.

To help your recovery go smoothly and to avoid complications, here are our top tips for caring for your dental implants directly after your surgery.

Don’t smoke

If there is one habit you should most certainly ditch it is smoking. Not only is it bad news for your lungs and your health in general, it also slows down your rate of healing, increasing the likelihood of complications with your recovery process.

Take your pain medication as directed

You will be in some pain while you heal, and that is to be expected. However, you may be prescribed something stronger than over the counter pain relief and this will help you obtain some relief. Take these as directed, don’t wait for the pain to get bad before you ‘give in’ and take them. Being in pain can actually slow the healing process.

Stick to a soft diet

Avoid injuring your gums by sticking to a diet of soft food for at least the first week after your dental implant surgery. Opt for soups, mashed potato and noodle type dishes. Yoghurts and smoothies are popular options and ice cream can also help to numb your gums as well as tasting delicious.

Avoid cleaning the implant area but clean the rest of your mouth normally.

This will help keep any bacteria at bay while you heal, which is important for avoiding infection.

Follow the instructions given to you by our dental implant surgical team.
 

These guys know the best way to ensure that you make the most straightforward recovery possible, so take their instructions as mandatory rather than choosing to follow the ones that you want to!

Long-term care for dental implants

After the healing process is complete, you will still need to make a commitment to caring for your implants if you are to keep them in tip top condition.
 

Don’t smoke – again!

Okay, we already know that it hinders the recovery process. However, it also puts you at greater risk of developing periodontal disease – an inflammatory gum condition that, left untreated, can threaten the viability of your dental implants.
 

Clean your teeth properly, and pay special attention to your gums

Your new implants need to be cleaned just like regular teeth, and this means brushing them twice a day with a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste. While your artificial teeth cannot get cavities, the rest of your natural teeth can, especially those neighboring the prosthetic. You also need to pay extra attention to your gum health. As mentioned above, if eriodontal disease – which is also known as gum disease – is left to become severe, it can potentially cause problems with the viability of your gums and jaw bone, and this could put your implant at risk.
 

Visit our dentist regularly

When it comes to your dental health, our dentist is your best support. With years of education and experience, our dentist is trained to be able to effectively assess the health and condition of your teeth, including any restorations that you have. If there are problems developing with your dental implant, our dentist will be the first one to know. Prompt treatment may be able to save your implant from becoming too affected.

If you would like more tips on the best ways to look after your dental implants, either directly after your surgery or in the long term, please contact our friendly and knowledgeable dental team.