Home Care After A Dental Implant Procedure
Once you complete a dental implant surgery, there are a couple of things that you can do at home to make sure your dental implants remain healthy. Here are some important steps to home care after dental implant surgery.
Go Easy with Chewing
The first is to make sure that you go easy with chewing until the dental implant heals fully. Use pain as your guide, because a lot of pain while eating can indicate that you're putting too much pressure on a wound that is trying to heal. It's definitely wise to avoid chewing on extremely hard items, such as nuts, until your pain subsides.
Monitor for Infection
You'll also want to monitor for infection on a regular basis. Be sure to finish any antibiotics that your dentist prescribes. Look for the signs of a spreading infection. These include pain and redness that radiates away from the area of the dental implant. Fever and rash are also common signs of a developing systemic infection. Make sure that you follow up with your dentist for a checkup after several weeks have passed; they can help to ensure there is no infection near your roots by using X-ray technology.
Floss Carefully
Flossing is still very important while you're waiting for a dental implant to heal. Use nylon floss to avoid damaging the tooth. You might want to use the criss-cross method to floss your dental implant, as this helps you avoid going too far into the gums with your flossing motions. Some dentists also recommend that dental implant patients use a water flosser while they are recovering. The water flosser uses a spurt of water to irrigate your mouth and carry out any extraneous food particles. When you apply it directly to the tooth, it will help to pull off some of the plaque particles that are stuck on the tooth.
Deal with Brushing Sensitivity
Dental implant sites can be sore right after surgery. But good brushing must prevail. You can ask your dentist for an interproximal dental brush to use while your mouth is healing. This type of brush can be even more gentle than a soft bristle brush, since it gives you greater finesse in reaching the site.
Consider a Stimulator
Finally, some dentists will recommend that you use a stimulator device to stimulate the area and promote healthy tissue healing. Ask your dentist whether a stimulator is necessary in your case.