When you were younger, you might have considered yourself a rebel. You didn’t like to be told what you’re not allowed to do, but as an adult, you’ve hopefully realized some of those rules have a legitimate purpose. Although considered minor and largely successful, dental implant placement is still a surgical procedure with risks. As a result, you need to take your dentist’s aftercare instructions seriously. If you don’t, and the clot that forms over the site is dislodged too early, you could face complications that derail plans for your smile. Here are some things you definitely shouldn’t do after you’ve had dental implant surgery.
Be Active
Especially if you have a labor-intensive job or exercise routine, it may be difficult to spend some time away, but you need to take it easy for at least a couple of days following your placement procedure. While increasing your blood flow can make bleeding worse and interfere with the clot, rest allows your body to focus on sending resources to the site and healing. After a couple of days, you can resume some of your normal activities like walking and desk tasks. By a week, you should be ready to get back to your typical schedule without putting your implants at risk.
Smoke
Smoking harms your oral health even when you’re not trying to recover from minor surgery, but it poses a greater threat after dental implant placement. Tobacco in general encourages bacterial growth in the oral cavity, increasing the risk of infection and complication, and slows down the healing process. In addition, smoking entails creating suction in the mouth, which can remove the blood clot prematurely from the site.
Eat Hard, Crunchy Foods
When your implants are fully embedded in the jawbone and restored, you can have nuts, chips, and basically whatever else you want. However, during this vulnerable time, you need to avoid these foods and make it easier for the tissue to mend. For about a week, stick to soft foods like eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, and bananas.
Extremely hot or cold—as well as excessively sugary or acidic—foods are also not a great idea immediately after dental implant placement. Give your gum tissue time to close before exposing them to these substances.
Use a Straw
While on your soft-food diet, you can have smoothies, but do not drink them (or any other beverage for that matter) through a straw. As previously mentioned, the sucking motion can lift the blood clot before the tissue underneath has healed, leading to painful complications.
Neglect Your Oral Hygiene
As you have a brief leave of absence from normal life, you may think you can “take a break” from brushing and flossing. However, you don’t want to give oral bacteria a chance to build up and possibly make your implants fail. Even on the day you undergo the procedure, gently and carefully brush and floss to keep your mouth a hospitable environment for your new implants.
Even if you still have a rebellious nature, following your dentist’s directions will give you the best chances of a smooth recovery and implant success.
About the Author
For Dr. Kyle Sharp, his work is about so much more than just fixing teeth—it’s about making personal connections and building trust. He customizes treatment to your smile’s needs and takes the time to explain options and answer questions. He earned his dental degree from the Texas A&M University School of Dentistry and can meet with you to talk about dental implants. To schedule an appointment at Sharp Smiles, reach out to us online or call our Fort Smith office at 479-648-9988.