How to Maintain Healthy Implants
After your implants are placed, the success of your treatment will mostly depend on you. The foods you eat, the dental products you use, and more all help to determine how long your new implant will last.
Explore our guide to learn some valuable advice for post-op implant care.
The Week After Implant Surgery
The first week after surgery is the most important phase of your implant procedure. It’s essential that you treat your teeth and gums delicately while your jaw heals.
Our dentists especially emphasize the following guidelines:
- Don’t eat tough, chewy, or sticky foods — Tough foods like steak and raw vegetables, in addition to chewy or sticky foods like gummies and caramel, can infect your implant site and ruin your treatment. Stick to soft foods and clear liquids for at least a few days.
- Don’t spit or use a straw — Any type of forceful spitting or suction puts pressure on your implant. This can break the blood clot and lead to a painful dry socket.
- Don’t drink alcohol or smoke — Drinking alcohol and smoking can dry out your mouth and reduce your blood flow, interfering with the healing process. Avoid both of these habits for at least a few days.
- Rinse with salt water — To reduce inflammation, rinse your mouth out with warm salt water two to three times per day. Make sure you wait until the day after your surgery before starting this routine, or you can risk setting back your treatment.
Long-Term Implant Care
After the first week, caring for dental implants becomes much simpler. Follow these easy tips from Dr. Pham if you want your implant to stay healthy for many years to come.
Oral Care Routine
Dental implants are resistant to decay, but you still need to take proper care of your teeth and gums. If the tissue around your implant gets infected, it can cause peri-implantitis and eventually lead to implant failure.
To avoid this, brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day to remove bacteria from your teeth and gums. Dr. Pham also recommends rinsing your mouth out with an antibacterial mouthwash to keep your smile sparkling.
Choosing the Right Products for Dental Implant Care
You can clean your implants just like you clean your natural teeth. No special tools or cleaning products are necessary to maintain healthy implants. However, we recommend that you keep a few factors in mind when choosing your oral care products:
- Toothbrush — Use a soft-bristled brush to avoid scratching your implant or irritating your gums.
- Toothpaste — Avoid any variety of toothpaste that contains abrasive ingredients, such as those made for teeth whitening and smokers.
- Floss — Nylon-coated floss is best for working in between and around your implant.
- Mouthwash — To avoid drying out your mouth, choose a brand of mouthwash that doesn’t contain alcohol.
Visit Contemporary Dental Arts for Dental Checkups
The final step of maintaining healthy implants is visiting Dr. Pham for regular hygiene appointments at least twice a year. These visits allow him to check on your implant and identify any potential issues before they begin to threaten your health.
Call our San Jose office at (408) 253-4150 and schedule your consultation today.
