As you get prepared for dental implant placement, you may be learning about what happens during the procedure and your recovery afterward. There may be tips and advice you learned about what you should do once your procedure is done, but what shouldn’t you do? Here are four things you need to avoid after your surgery to ensure you have a smooth experience healing.
Eat Hard or Spicy Foods
Some of your favorite foods and snacks may have a crunch to them or be spicy, but you must avoid items like these for the time being. As tasty as they are, they can irritate the soft tissue. Even if it’s an overly hot temperature-wise, it can spell trouble! Keep your mealtime gentle and easy to chew, so you can give your teeth the break they need.
Use Tobacco
It may be a habit to smoke and chew tobacco, but you should try your best to break it or temporarily stop it. When you do either of them, you increase your risk of gum disease while also slowing down your recovery as a whole. Not only that, but the fusion of the implant post to your jawbone is also affected. It can become wobbly or feel loose.
Do Intense Physical Activity
After any type of surgical procedure, you should give yourself plenty of time to rest. Dental implant placement is no different, so be sure to avoid any strenuous physical activity or exercise. These increase blood flow, which can cause you to bleed more. Just sit back, relax, and look forward to having a full smile once again.
Pick at Your Implant Site
Over the next several months, the post will need to fuse to your jawbone, so it’s important you don’t pick at it at all. You may be tempted to feel it with your tongue or finger, but just leave it be. Disturbing or scratching it can introduce bacteria and infect the area. Keep up with your oral hygiene routine, and you can do your best avoid oral health issues from developing.
In the end, dental implants are a great investment in your smile, which you should protect. By not doing any of the points above, you can increase your odds of having a successful treatment to a full set of teeth that helps you feel more confident.
About the Author
Dr. Michael Zhang earned his dental degree from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dentistry. He has advanced training that allows him to complete the entire dental implant process in-house, so you can stay with him and his team throughout. If you want to know how you can support your recovery after placement surgery, schedule an appointment or call his office at (714) 465-5589.