Are you counting down the days to dental implant surgery? Getting implants placed is an important step on the way to restoring gaps in your smile. However, there are some things you will need to keep in mind to ensure your implant treatment is a success. Certain actions and behaviors can interfere with the healing process. Here are five things you should NOT do following dental implant surgery in Oklahoma City.
#1: Drinking with a Straw
Do not sip on your favorite milkshake or smoothie with a straw after getting dental implants. The suction from drinking with a straw can pull the protective blood clot off of the surgery site. Losing this blood clot can lead to a painful condition known as dry socket. In addition to avoiding straws, stay away from carbonated beverages, as the carbonation could irritate the gum tissue around your new implants.
#2: Excessive Rinsing
Keeping your mouth clean is very important after undergoing oral surgery. While rinsing with a lukewarm salt water mix can boost your oral health, be careful not to swish too forcefully. Excessive rinsing can disturb the implant site and cause bleeding. Instead, rinse gently and let the salt water or mouthwash flow out of your mouth into the sink instead of spitting it out.
#3: Hard or Hot Foods
You will need to adjust your diet after oral surgery by eating soft foods only for a few days to a week. Oatmeal, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soft pasta, and room-temperature soup are all safe to eat during this period. Avoid hard or hot foods, as they can negatively affect the healing process.
#4: Intense Exercise
Your body will need rest after dental implant surgery in Oklahoma City, so don’t even think about hitting the gym. Intense physical exertion can increase blood flow to the implant site and lead to bleeding. So, take it easy for two to three days after getting dental implants. You can use this time to catch up on new movies or rewatch your favorite shows on Netflix! Your dentist will let you know when it’s safe to start working out again.
#5: Smoking
In general, smokers have an increased risk of implant failure compared to nonsmokers. In fact, any type of tobacco use (smoking, chewing, or vaping) reduces blood flow to the mouth and can disrupt the implant healing process. Smoking can also lead to dry socket by dislodging the blood clot that forms at the surgery site. If you must smoke, dentists generally recommended waiting at least two or three months after dental implant surgery. Of course, there’s never a bad time to quit completely!
Dental implants are a reliable way to replace missing teeth and restore dental function. Follow the five tips above to increase your chances of dental implant success!
About the Author
Dr. Joe Isaacson has been voted one of America’s Top Dentists in the Field of Cosmetics and Implant Dentistry by the Consumer Research Council of America. The award-winning dentist performs start-to-finish implant treatment at his Oklahoma City dental office, where he has seen more than 9,000 patients since opening nearly three decades ago. For more dental implant surgery aftercare tips, visit Dr. Isaacson’s website or call 405-943-8575.