Recovering from Dental Implant Surgery
A dental implant surgery is used to replace an existing tooth by screwing in the roots and inserting an artificial tooth on top. This may sound like an intimidating procedure, but is actually quite routine. So long as you take care of yourself after the surgery, you have no need to fear. Here are a few items you should remember when recovering from dental implant surgery.
Foods to Avoid
After an implant surgery, you should do all you can to make it easier on your teeth and jaw. For the first week, choose to eat softer foods that don’t take much chewing. This should include steamed vegetables, a careful selection of meats and poultry, and soft grains like oatmeal. Eat these foods in addition to typical soft foods like applesauce, mashed potatoes, and pudding for a more balanced diet.
Avoid foods that require too much chewing or that could get lodged in your teeth. This includes:
- Candy
- Nuts and seeds
- Crunchy vegetables
- Popcorn
- Chips
For the first few days you should also avoid foods that are served at an extreme temperature, like hot soups and ice cream. Avoid using a straw for your drinks, as the pressure can put a strain on your implants. One of the key parts of your diet on the road to recovery is drinking plenty of water.
Healing Methods
After your dental implant surgery, you should avoid any type of strenuous activity for a few days. This can cause unnecessary bleeding or pain at the site of the implant. You should also avoid touching the implants, even with your tongue.
Make sure that you are taking the prescribed antibiotics to avoid any infections. You should also have a prescribed painkiller to take. If the painkiller does not adequately help with your comfort, consult with your doctor to see what else you can do.
After your surgery, it is important that you practice good oral hygiene to prevent extra bacteria from forming. In the first 24 hours after the surgery, you should be particularly careful about the area around the implant. However, after this time you can resume with gentle teeth brushing and a salt water rinse after meals.
Signs to Watch For
Following your implant surgery, there are a few symptoms that are normal and some that you need to be more cautious of.
Normal symptoms include:
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Mild pain
Abnormal symptoms include:
- Severe bleeding
- Unmanageable pain
- Persistent fever
If you notice any of the abnormal symptoms during your recovering from dental implant surgery, contact your dentist to see what you can do for treatment.
When you have an experienced dentist or oral surgeon to operate on you, you have no need to fear. Make sure to take care of yourself post-surgery to get the best results possible. If you need to schedule an appointment for an implant surgery consultation or a regular checkup, book an appointment with us online today.