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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Caring for your Mouth after Dental Implants

Like most surgical procedures, getting dental implants call for extra care and attention, at least for the first few weeks as the surgery heals and as you get used to having a metal root deep in your gum. Always ask your dentist for recovery tips and follow them conscientiously. Here are a few things you might hear from your dental professional.

Diet

Don’t drink anything hot nor eat anything at all during the first day while the local anesthetic wears off. Stick to soft foods for the first few weeks as well, because the implant might not be able to efficiently bond with your jawbone. If you’re drinking anything, don’t swill the cold liquid on the affected area.

Pain

Know that the surgery area might ache and be sore for a few days following your treatment, so ask your doctor for prescription painkillers, and be sure to take it (and keep it in the minimum stated dose, too). Instead of pumping up your painkiller intake, call your doctor if the pain isn’t subsiding.
Lifestyle

If you are a heavy smoker, you need to curb your use—at least, until after the implant has healed. Alcohol consumption and constant stress can also burn you out and keep your body’s immune system from functioning properly, so you should consider adjusting your lifestyle until your dentist says that you can resume with your usual lifestyle habits.

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