In order to replace your missing teeth with dental implants, you will need to have the implant posts surgically placed into your jaw. Naturally, your mouth will require some time to recover after the procedure. During this period, there are certain things that you should avoid doing if you don’t want to disrupt the healing process. Below are 4 “do nots” that you’ll need to keep in mind after your dental implant surgery.
1. Do Not Smoke
A natural process called osseointegration will take place after you receive your dental implants. Simply put, this is when the jawbone gradually forms a bond with the dental implant posts. However, if you smoke, it could potentially slow down or even stop osseointegration, and that in turn can lead to dental implant failure. As such, once your dental implants have been placed, it’s best to plan to stay away from cigarettes and other tobacco products for a while.
2. Do Not Engage in Intense Exercise
There’s a reason why you will be told to get plenty of rest after dental implant surgery. Exercise increases blood flow, and while this is normally a good thing for your overall health, it can lead to bleeding at the site where the surgery was performed. It’s therefore important not to push yourself too hard following your procedure. In general, you should avoid strenuous exercise of any kind for two or three days at minimum.
3. Do Not Eat Any Foods That are Hard or Hot
Once you have had dental implants placed, there are certain foods that you will need to stay away from. In particular, you shouldn’t eat hard foods or crunchy foods such as potato chips or seeds. Hot foods, such as certain soups, should also be avoided. Your diet should consist of soft options like mashed potatoes or scrambled eggs. (Rest assured that these restrictions are temporary; once the dental implant process is complete, you will be able to enjoy all of your favorite foods again.)
4. Do Not Drink Through a Straw
A blood clot will form at the implant site in order to aid the healing process. A dislodged blood clot can be very painful and delay your recovery. To ensure the blood clot stays in place, you shouldn’t drink anything through a straw, as doing so can create powerful suction in your mouth. Until you’ve sufficiently recovered, you should drink all beverages directly out of the cup.
Having a firm idea of what you should and shouldn’t be doing after your dental implant surgery is critical. Be sure to listen carefully to any post-op instructions your dentist gives you and follow them to the letter. Once you’ve gotten past the recovery process, you can start looking forward to enjoying all the benefits that dental implants have to offer.
About the Author
Dr. Walter Mick is a proud graduate of The Ohio State University School of Dentistry, and he has completed courses through the Midwest Implant Institute and the Perio Implant Institute. He is able to complete the entire dental implant procedure in-house in order to rebuild his patients’ smiles. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Mick at Mick Family Dental Care in Reynoldsburg, visit his website or call (614) 864-4618.