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We would like to congratulate you on your decision to fix your smile with dental implants. You will not be disappointed by the outstanding results. However, once you have made the decision to fix your smile, you need to know how to keep your implants healthy and functional. For this reason, Pristine Periodontics and Implants has compiled this list of helpful tips to keep your dental implants healthy, beautiful, and functional.
1) Follow Doctor’s Directions
Following doctor’s orders is a critical part of ensuring dental implants success. These instructions were created by our staff after years of experience, training, and education. They will also ensure that your aftercare will proceed smoothly and efficiently. If you fail to follow Dr. Sayed’s instructions after your procedure, you could risk increased pain, infection, swelling, or implant failure.
2) Rest After Your Procedure
Strenuous physical activity could increase your chances of bleeding, swelling, and other problems while your implants heal. It is best to spend the first couple of days after your surgery resting and limiting your activities.
3) Take Medications As Directed After Surgery
Although you may be tempted to stop taking medications as soon as you feel better or stop having pain, it is best to take all of your medications as directed until they are completely finished. This will reduce your chances of infection or other serious problems as you heal from your procedure.
4) Drink Plenty Of Water
Properly hydrated tissues heal more rapidly and have fewer complications. This is why keeping your mouth moist after surgery can also keep it healthy. Try drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day.
5) Avoid Tobacco Products
Smoking can inhibit your ability to heal and increase your risk for periodontal disease, infection, tooth decay, oral cancers, and dental implant failure. This is why experts encourage patients to stop smoking or reduce tobacco habits before and after oral surgery.
6) Limit Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption can increase inflammation, cause a greater risk of oral infection, and dehydrate delicate tissues. This means patients should limit or avoid alcohol after oral surgery or until their surgical site has fully healed.
7) Add Healthy Foods To Your Diet
Foods like dairy products, peanut butter, salmon, raisins, and green tea can help patients get better oral health, and promote faster healing. Try gradually incorporating the above foods into your diet each day. Your overall health, as well as your oral health is sure to improve.
8) Stay Away From Unhealthy Foods
Having a well-balanced diet is important, but so is avoiding certain types of food and beverages. Foods with high acid content (fruit juices, tomato based products), ones that are sticky (candies and pastries), hard foods (hard breads, nuts, and seeds), and extra-crunchy items (carrots and apples) can all delay or prevent proper healing of the dental implant site.
9) Reduce Sugar
Foods with a high sugar content can increase tooth decay and other oral health problems. They can also promote an unhealthy pH balance in your mouth. This is why we suggest cutting back on candy, soda, and other high-sugar treats for the health of your dental implants and other teeth.
10) Establish Good Oral Hygiene Habits
The health of your implants depends on keeping your oral tissues clean and healthy. For this reason, patients should brush, floss, and see their dentist regularly. Your doctor may also prescribe a special rinse for after your surgery. Be sure to use this as directed.
11) Inspect Implants Regularly
Patients should be sure to inspect their dental implant site often for any signs of infection or irregularities. Anything that looks out of the ordinary could result in problems with your implant. This is why patients should immediately notify our office if they notice any changes, excess inflammation, or anything out of the ordinary.
12) Avoid Pressure On The Implant Site
As you heal from your placement procedure, avoiding pressure on the dental implant incision site is vital. This tip will help ensure that your implant site remains free from inflammation, bleeding, and extra pain.
Come To Pristine Periodontics and Implants For Gorgeous Dental Implants
Patients in the Birmingham, MI area and beyond know all about the comprehensive services provided by our team at Pristine Periodontics and Implants. If you have additional questions about dental implants, what makes a good candidate, or financing, please read through the rest of our infosite or call us today for a no-obligation consultation with Dr. Sayed.
