Dental Implant DON’Ts: 4 Things to Avoid After Your Procedure

Dental implants are a popular solution to replace missing teeth because they’re so durable and successful. They’re the only method that rebuilds your smile with standalone structures firmly embedded into your jawbone. That said, they’re not entirely impervious to harm and so caring for them properly is important to their well-being. Keep reading to learn 4 things to avoid doing after your procedure to keep your dental implants healthy!

#1: Engaging in Strenuous Activity

After your surgery, it’s important that a blood clot forms over the implant site to prevent infection. You’ll need to steer clear of any physical exertion that raises your heart rate or blood pressure because this can dislodge it and hinder your recovery. You may need to ask for help with household chores like vacuuming the house or walking the dog as a result. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about this for long. After a week or so, you should be okay to resume your usual activities.

#2: Thoroughly Brushing Your Teeth

Pressing hard or aggressively with your toothbrush can harm the surgical site so try to steer clear of vigorous scrubbing for a few days. In the first 24 hours after your appointment, you shouldn’t brush at all. Your dentist might prefer that you rinse gently with salt water, though some instruct you to avoid that area altogether for the first day. In the days following, it’s usually safe to gently brush your teeth but you’ll want to avoid the implant site specifically.

#3: Using Tobacco

Cigarettes, vapes, and chewing tobacco products all contain nicotine which is not only addictive but harmful to both your oral as well as overall health. It reduces blood oxygen levels and restricts flow so that it’s harder for your body to deliver essential nutrients to your teeth and gums. This is likely to result in dental implant failure.

Some patients wait until after they’ve fully recovered from their surgery before smoking only to harm their implant, so if possible, try to quit this habit altogether.

#4: Ignoring Discomfort

While it’s normal to experience some mild pain, swelling, and bleeding after your implant procedure, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer. It’s typically perfectly acceptable to address the symptoms with over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen. If your dentist prescribed pain meds, be sure to follow the directions in detail to ensure you’re using them safely.

You can also apply an ice pack to that side of your face for 15 minutes at a time for some well-deserved numbing and relief.

It shouldn’t be long before you’re fully recovered and receiving your dental crown for a beautifully restored smile!

About the Author

Dr. Corey Martinez provides hi-tech, compassionate care to improve his patients’ lives by enhancing their oral health. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Manchester College in Fort Wayne, and then achieved his doctorate from the Indiana University School of Dentistry. Now, he uses state-of-the-art technology to offer a wide range of services under one roof, including dental implants. He has the training and experience to be with you for every step of the process from your consultation to surgery to creating your CEREC same-day dental crown. You’re welcome to request an appointment on the website or by calling (765) 724-7729.