16 Helpful Tips For Keeping Dental Implants Healthy & Beautiful

The decision to fix missing or damaged teeth with dental implants is an important one because this amazing tooth replacement option can repair your smile, restore your confidence, and improve your oral health. But that doesn’t mean that additional work is not necessary. Once patients have made the decision to fix their smiles, they need to know which steps they can take to keep their new implants healthy and functional. To help our valued patients, Dugan & Sweeney Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has compiled this list of tips to keep dental implants healthy, functional, and beautiful.

1) Follow Aftercare Directions Carefully
Following doctor’s orders ensures that your aftercare will proceed smoothly and efficiently. If patients fail to follow instructions after their procedure, they could risk increased pain, infection, swelling, or possible implant failure.

2) Reduce Pressure On The Implant Area
Avoiding pressure on the dental implant incision site can ensure that it remains free from inflammation and added pain.

3) Inspect Your Implant Site Regularly
Patients should be sure to inspect their dental implant site regularly for any signs of infection or irregularities. Patients should immediately notify our office if they notice any changes, excess inflammation, or anything out of the ordinary.

4) Drink Plenty Of Water
Sufficiently hydrated tissues heal faster with fewer complications. This is why keeping your mouth hydrated can also keep it healthy. Try drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water per day.

5) Stop Smoking
Smoking can reduce or limit the body’s ability to heal and increase your risk for periodontal disease, infection, tooth decay, oral cancers, and dental implant failure. This is why patients should curtail tobacco habits before and after oral surgery.

6) Curtail Alcohol
Consuming too much alcohol can increase inflammation of delicate oral tissues, increase the chance of infection, and dehydrate delicate oral tissues. This means you should limit or avoid alcohol after oral surgery.

7) Keep A Healthy Diet
Dairy products, peanut butter, salmon, and raisins, are foods that can help patients get better oral health, and speed oral healing. Try gradually incorporating these foods into your diet and your oral health will definitely improve.

8) Stay Away From Unhealthy Foods
Foods that are sticky (candies and pastries), hard foods (hard breads, nuts, and seeds), and extra-crunchy items (carrots and apples) can put pressure on the implant site or prevent proper healing. Avoid these foods if at all possible at least until your implants have completely healed.

9) Avoid High-Sugar Or Acidic Foods
High-sugar or extremely acidic foods can increase your chances of tooth decay and other oral health problems. This is why we suggest reducing candy, soda, acidic foods, and high-sugar treats.

10) Brush & Floss Regularly
Good healing of implants requires keeping your oral tissues clean and healthy. For this reason, patients should brush, floss regularly. This means after meals or at least twice a day.

11) Take Medications As Directed
It is best to take all medications as directed until the medication is gone. This will reduce the chance of infection and other complications after surgery.

12) Avoid Strenuous Activites After Surgery
Strenuous physical activity could increase your chances of bleeding, swelling, and other problems while implants heal. It is best to spend the first couple of days resting, sit upright, and limit your physical activities.

13) Use Mouth Rise
You may be prescribed a special oral rinse to help keep your mouth healthy. Avoid products with alcohol though as this could increase dryness in your mouth and inhibit healing.

14) Do Not Use A Straw Or Spit After Surgery
Using a straw or spitting could increase your chances of swelling, bleeding, and other problems after oral surgery. Patients should sip carefully, stay away from straw-use, and avoid spitting.

15) Get Plenty Of Rest
Getting rest is a critical part of healing from oral surgery. This means avoiding strenuous exercise, avoiding chewing on the implant site, and getting a good night’s sleep.

16) See Your Oral and Implant Surgeon Regularly
Seeing your dental health provider for regular cleanings are important. This is even more important when you have dental implants since they will be cleaned and inspected when you see your oral and implant surgeon every six months.

Come To Dugan & Sweeney Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery For Stunning Dental Implants

Patients in the Pittsburgh, PA area and beyond know all about the wide array of services provided by our team at Dugan & Sweeney Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. We think you will find that dental implants are a strong, durable, and natural-looking tooth replacement treatment. If you have further questions about dental implants, what makes a good candidate, or your payment options, please read through the rest of our website or call our office for a no-obligation consultation with one of our doctors today.