So, you just got dental implants, and now you’re doing your due diligence to make sure that your aftercare goes smoothly. Congratulations! You realize that what it takes to protect your investment is thoughtful maintenance and a willingness to follow the instructions of your dentist.
If you’re wondering what you should avoid after your surgery, continue reading. The longevity of your dental implant largely depends on your care in the first few days and weeks.
1. Eating Hard or Sticky Foods
If you’re a chronic ice-cruncher or taffy-snacker, you’ll be disappointed right away. These types of foods will irritate the implant site and possibly cause damage to the tissue or the implant itself.
Avoid foods that can cling to your teeth, like candy, and foods that could accidentally cause you to bite something hard, like chicken wings.
2. Smoking or Consuming Alcohol
Smoking in general is bad for your oral health, but it—along with alcohol—can seriously impede your healing time. In addition, the chemicals in tobacco or vape smoke can cause bacteria in your mouth to multiply and cause gum disease, potentially leading to implant failure.
3. Eating Hot or Cold Foods
The site around your implant will be vulnerable and sensitive for a few days after the surgery. It’s especially important to avoid eating anything that is extremely hot or cold to avoid discomfort around your teeth and, more importantly, to avoid irritation to the implant site itself.
4. Rinsing Aggressively
While the surgical wound in your gums is healing, it needs time to form a proper clot to keep out infection and begin the healing process. Whenever you rinse with salt water to help fight infection, do so very gently only after 24 to 48 hours after the fact. Doing this will ensure the clotting can happen unimpeded.
5. Doing Strenuous Exercise
While it’s important to continue improving your overall health with regular exercise, you’ll need to avoid exerting yourself for three to four days after the surgery.
As you exercise, your body pumps greater volumes of blood through your veins to keep up with the demand from your muscles and other systems. This could lead to bleeding around the site or damage to the healing clot.
6. Drinking with a Straw
As innocuous as it may sound, drinking through a straw could cause complications for your healing, especially in the first few days. Creating suction in your mouth could dislodge the clot around your implant site, leading to a painful condition known as dry socket.
Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth and offer a number of benefits. However, they won’t do you much good if they fail due to improper care. Avoid these pitfalls, and you’ll be on your way to a brighter, restored smile.
About the Practice
Dr. Jonathan H. Cohen is a highly decorated professional with many years of experience and training from a number of prestigious institutions. After graduating from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine he went to the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital to earn a Fellowship in dental implantology. He then continued to study at The Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education, The Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Study, and the Atlantic Coast Dental Research Clinic, gaining advanced knowledge in multiple disciplines. To schedule a dental implant consultation at Julington Creek Family Dentistry, call (904) 230-2961 or visit the website to learn more.