Several years ago I decided to take a trip to the dentist after skipping multiple appointments for over 15 years. I truly had a dental anxiety and had a hard time getting over my fears. Thankfully, my dental visit went smoothly with only four cavities identified. What I did find from this dental visit was that there was a great deal of new information and technology that I had been missing out on. Laser-based technology and digital imaging are just a few examples. With this blog, I want you to understand that you can get over your fears and learn about this new technology like I did, so enjoy the information.
How well you care for yourself after your dental implant surgery is an important determining factor in how successful your new dental implants will be. You need to put effort into healing properly so that your body adjusts well to your new teeth.
The following are four mistakes to avoid in the days following your dental implant surgery that could hamper the healing process and make it more difficult to recover:
Smoking after the implant surgery
Those who smoke regularly might find it difficult to stop smoking after the implant procedure. However, it's very important for those who are recovering to not smoke.
Smoking can create a lot of complications when it comes to osseointegration or creating a strong bond between the existing jaw bone and the dental implants. Smoking inhibits circulation, and proper circulation is highly important when the body is healing.
Patients need to at least temporarily stop smoking after implant surgery until you've give your body adequate time to heal. If all else fails, try a nicotine patch in the days preceding and following the procedure to control your smoking habit.
Consuming alcohol after the implant surgery
Consuming alcohol after the implant surgery is also a bad idea. Alcohol can dehydrate the body, and staying adequately hydrated is an important part of healing. Proper hydration makes your cells healthier and promotes cell growth so that your body can heal in a timely manner.
Beginning to eat solid food too soon after surgery
Immediately after the procedure, you should be eating foods that don't require any chewing whatsoever. Gradually, you can work your way back to eating solid foods, but at first it's imperative that you stick to liquids or soft foods.
You also should avoid eating very hot foods while you're recovering from the dental implant procedure. Hot foods can damage healing tissues, so it's best to make sure soft foods like soup that you're eating after the procedure have been given ample time to cool before you begin eating them.
Neglecting proper oral health care
Patients often make the dangerous assumption that their dental implants won't require as much dental hygiene care because they're not real teeth and can't develop cavities. However, this is not true. It's especially dangerous to neglect dental hygiene while your mouth is recovering from the dental implant procedure because healing skin in your gums can be susceptible to infection.
Follow your dentist's instructions carefully regarding dental hygiene practices after the procedure. Your dentist is going to recommend that you carefully rinse out your mouth periodically after the procedure with an antiseptic mouthwash that will prevent infection of any healing surgery wounds in your mouth.
Share12 April 2017
