Dental Implants: What You Should Know About Your Recovery

If you are getting dental implants placed in your mouth, you are likely well aware that you will have a bit of a recovery process until you are 100% again. While the dentist will let you know what you will need to do during those first weeks, it will help to know some long-term recovery tips to help you get through it.

Avoid Using A Water Flosser For Several Months

If you use a water flosser at home to clean between your teeth, know that you are going to have to avoid using it for several months after your dental implant procedure. The gum tissue is simply going to be too sensitive for a while to get back to water flossing. It is best to switch to traditional dental floss so that you have fine control over what parts of your mouth you are touching when flossing.

Avoid Massaging The Area 

You'll want to avoid touching or massaging the area where the dental implant was placed for several months as well, as tempting as it may be to do so. This is even more important when you had bone grafting performed because the area heals best when it doesn't have additional pressure put on it. Try to leave the area alone as best as you can to promote healthy healing. 

Take Caution Brushing Around The Surgical Site

You'll want to take caution as you brush around the surgical site for several months as well, since applying pressure with a toothbrush can also disrupt the dental implant. However, you should not avoid brushing your teeth all together. It's important to keep your natural teeth clean and brush normally around those healthy teeth.

Watch How You Eat

You should take caution when eating on the side of your mouth where the dental implant surgery was performed. You should only use that side to take small bites of soft foods that will not apply too much pressure to the dental implant. You can use the opposite side of your mouth for chewing harder foods if you did not have an implant placed on that side as well. You should continue only eating soft foods in that instance. 

Return For Your Healing Evaluation 

Your dentist will request that you return to their office after a few months for a healing evaluation. It's important that you go to this visit, even if it seems as if your implant is healing normally. Your dentist will evaluate you for potential issues that you may not be aware of. 

Contact your dentist if you have questions about dental implants


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