If you have decided to invest in dental implants, it’s essential to do all you can to help them last. Dental implants are an excellent way to help improve your smile. However, without proper maintenance, dental implants can fail and need replacing which isn’t cheap. Check out these five tips that will help your body recover after dental implant surgery.
1. Make Sure You Rest After Your Procedure
Rest is one of the most necessary factors that’s going to influence your recovery. Your body needs a chance to heal the surgical wounds and accept the implants into your body. Failing to rest increases your chances of complications occurring.
Make sure you avoid strenuous physical activity for at least a week after your surgery. Stressing your body out can cause your implants to bleed or get swollen. Try and find ways to limit your activities while your implants heal.
Another important part of a successful recovery is following whatever instructions are given to you by your dentist. Failing to follow their recommendations increases your chances of infection, implant failure, and increases your pain.
2. Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is another excellent way to help your body heal. Your body is more likely to accept the implants if you keep your tissues hydrated. Your mouth may feel unnaturally dry after the procedure, so try and increase your water intake.
You should also make a special effort to avoid alcohol while you’re recovering from dental implant surgery. Alcohol increases inflammation and makes it easier for you to catch an infection. Alcohol also dries out the tissues near your implants, so it’s best to wait until you recover to start drinking or smoking.
3. Rinse With Warm Salt Water
After the implant surgery, you’re likely to have some pain and general discomfort. Warm salt water rinses are an excellent natural way to find some relief. Salt water excels at gently removing bacteria from your mouth without aggravating the sensitive implant sites. You can do warm salt water rinses throughout the day to accelerate the heal thing process.
4. Avoid Tobacco And Unhealthy Foods
Putting tobacco in your body has a significant negative impact on your ability to heal. After dental implant surgery, it’s essential to lead a clean lifestyle. Staying away from unhealthy foods, drinking and smoking will help accelerate your healing process.
Smoking tobacco after oral surgery increases your risk for periodontal disease, tooth decay, and dental implant failure. Make sure you give your body a chance to heal before restarting your alcohol and tobacco consumption.
Eating healthy foods will also help your body heal faster. Salmon, dried fruits, peanut butter and dairy products are all examples of foods that will help your body heal faster. Your diet will impact your overall health and your energy levels during recovery.
5. Take Your Dental Hygiene Seriously
If you want your implants to last, you need to take proper care of your oral health. Keeping the tissues around your implants health has a direct impact on their ability to succeed. Make an oral care schedule and stick with it, especially in the first weeks following your implant surgery.
Make an effort to brush, flush and use mouthwash at least twice a day. Often your dentist will give you a special oral rinse that you should use as directed. You should also make the effort to book regular visits to your dentists and get check ups on your implants. Dental implants aren’t cheap, so it’s essential to do everything you can to help them last.