4 Ways to Speed Up Recovery Time After Dental Implants
Tooth loss is something that is common and sometimes unavoidable. The cause of tooth loss can range from tooth decay to impact that results in tooth loss. Those people that are missing teeth for whatever reason do have the option of dental implants. Dental implants are essentially replacement tooth roots that are designed to look and feel natural and allow for a strong base for replacement teeth. This is a surgical procedure that offers a variety of benefits, but recovery time is one of the main downsides. People that are looking to decrease recovery time after dental implants should be aware of the most helpful methods for improving healing time.
Diet
It is important that people who undergo a dental implant surgical procedure modify their diet directly after. It is possible for foods that are hard or crunchy to cause irritation at the surgical site. When the surgical site is irritated, this makes swelling and pain worse, which only adds to recovery time. Adopting a diet that mostly consists of soft foods allows you to avoid irritating the surgical site in any way and speed up recovery time.
Smoking
Not only should you not smoke directly after dental implant surgery, but you should also stop smoking in advance of the procedure. When you smoke, this lessens the amount of blood that is supplied to the jawbone and gums. Less blood flow is not ideal when you are trying to recover from a surgical procedure of any type.
Brushing
It is important to maintain good oral hygiene after this procedure, but you want to be sure that your oral care routine is not harsh. It is a good idea to switch to a sensitive toothpaste that is more gentle and will help to prevent gum inflammation, which is a common side effect after dental implants are placed over the tooth. It is also suggested that you brush using only a toothbrush with soft bristles and avoid putting a lot of pressure on the tooth that has the dental implant. It is possible for the dental implant to become dislodged if you overly aggressively brush the affected tooth with too much force.
Saltwater
You can also try rinsing your mouth out with saltwater directly following this procedure. The saltwater rinse is designed to reduce the amount of bleeding at the surgical site and also reduce the onset of infection. It is suggested that you gargle saltwater about two time a day until your dental implant has completely healed.
For more information about improving healing time after a dental implant, talk with your dentist.