What Should I Avoid After Dental Implant Surgery?

Dental implants are a fantastic way to replace missing teeth because they look and work exactly like the real thing. However, your implants will need to completely heal after being surgically placed before you can start chewing and smiling like you have never lost a tooth in the first place. Here’s a short list of habits that are best avoided while you are recovering from dental implant surgery.

Skip Using a Straw

After implant surgery, a blood clot will form over the implant site to protect the tissues inside. Drinking through a straw requires a sucking motion that causes significant pressure shifts within the mouth. This can dislodge the blood clot, exposing nerve endings and bone structures and causing a severely painful condition known as dry socket. It’s best not to drink through a straw until your implants have healed.

Hold Off on Rigorous Exercise

While intense physical activity can be an excellent way to preserve your health, it also causes your blood to pump more forcefully. This added blood pressure can disrupt the healing tissues around your new dental implant. Take a break from intense exercise after receiving dental implants until you are cleared by your dentist or oral surgeon.

Avoid Certain Foods

Avoid the following types of food for a few days after receiving dental implants:

• Hot or spicy foods can irritate or damage the vulnerable tissues around the dental implant site. Instead, enjoy mild foods that are cold or lukewarm.
• Hard, crunchy foods can break into shards that can injure or irritate the implant site. Stick to softer foods like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and steamed veggies.
• Fizzy beverages can irritate the healing gum tissue. Non-carbonated water is the ideal drink while recovering.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is horrible for your teeth in any case, but it is especially bad when recovering from dental implant surgery. Nicotine has the side effect of causing blood vessels to constrict, making it harder for the gum tissues to heal and fight infection. To make matters worse, the noxious chemicals in tobacco smoke can cause gum tissue to recede, making implants more likely to fail. It’s best to quit smoking at least a few weeks ahead of getting dental implants.

Dental implants are supposed to be a long-term investment. By taking care of your healing surgical sites, you can help ensure that your newly completed smile can last for decades.

About the Practice

Stec & Stines Cosmetic and Family Dentistry provides the best dental care that can be found in Grand Island, NE. Led by Drs. CJ Stec, Jacob Stines, Steven Stec, and Jane Wachter, the staff delivers exceptional oral care services in a warm and welcoming environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implant services. To learn more about caring for your dental implants after surgery, contact the office online or dial (308) 382-4440.