How To Heal From A Dental Implant Procedure
If you lost a tooth due to dental disease or trauma, your dentist may advise you to get a dental implant. Dental implants look and function just like your natural teeth. However, a dental implant procedure is surgical, so your body will need to properly recover afterward.
Here are a few tips to properly heal from a dental implant procedure.
Keep Your Mouth Clean
After dental implant surgery, you may be more susceptible to developing an infection. That is why it is very important to keep your mouth clean. The day after your procedure, you should rinse your mouth with salt water after every time you eat. Your dentist may also prescribe you a mouthwash to use after your surgery.
Eat a Soft Food Diet
To avoid irritating the dental implant surgery site, you will want to stick to soft foods for a couple of weeks. For example, you can eat soup, yogurt, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and eggs. You may also have smoothies. As your jaw heals, you can gradually start eating foods that require a little more chewing.
Avoid Smoking
As you are healing from dental implant surgery, you should avoid using tobacco products. Tobacco can hinder oxygen flow to the surgery site, which can negatively affect healing. Smoking regularly can also make the dental implant fail altogether.
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking a lot of water is especially important after a dental implant procedure. It can help flush toxins out of your body, which can ultimately reduce your recovery time. Staying hydrated can also give you more energy. Try to stay away from caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, as they can dry out your mouth and prolong the healing process.
Get Proper Rest
A dental implant procedure might not seem like a major surgery, but your body still went through a lot during the treatment. As such, it is important to take it easy after the procedure. Avoid strenuous activities for at least a few days and get at least eight hours of sleep each night. If you feel tired during the date, do not hesitate to take a nap. Getting proper rest can accelerate the healing process.
If you follow these helpful tips, you can successfully heal from your dental implant procedure. If you experience excessive pain or swelling several days after your procedure, you should get in touch with your dentist as soon as possible.
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