A Root Canal

2 Things To Avoid In The Days After Your Dental Implant Surgery

In the days following your dental implant surgery, your gums will be tender while they heal around the implant posts. During this time period, it is imperative that you take good care of your implants to ensure proper healing of the gums so that the posts will set firmly in your mouth. As part of this care, it is important to avoid partaking of a couple of types of products and food that could cause problems.

1.  Any Type of Tobacco Products

While it is always a good idea to try to stop using tobacco products altogether, it is most important to avoid using them in the days following your dental implants. Whether you smoke cigarettes or use chewing tobacco, the nicotine and chemicals in these products can be detrimental to your implants.

If you smoke cigarettes, the tar and other chemicals in the smoke will settle on the implant sites and your gums where they will leave a sticky residue. This residue not only slows the healing of the tissue but it also traps food particles and bacteria, which increases your risk of infection.

If you use chewing tobacco, the effects are the same, except that the chemicals are more directly deposited on the procedure sites. Also, the juice from the tobacco will sting the openings in the gums, increasing your discomfort.

2.  Any Foods That Are Hard or Sticky

Another thing you need to avoid after dental implant surgery is any type of food that is either hard or sticky. Especially in the days following your surgery, the posts will still be loose before the gums fully heal around them.

If you try to eat anything sticky, such as soft andy, chewing gum, or cheese-laden foods, the implants will become caught in the substance. If this happens, the posts may be dislodged or pulled out completely from the gums.

If you try to eat anything hard, such as hard candy or French bread, the firmness of the food and the pressure required to eat it will come down hard on the implants and your gums. This scenario could crack the implants or reopen the surgical sites, requiring another procedure to fix the issue.

Avoiding the above products and food in the days after your surgery can help ensure that your gums heal and implants take hold properly. If you have any further questions about how to take care of your dental implants in both the short- and long-term, speak with your dentist for personalized advice. For more information about caring for dental implants, visit a site such as http://premierdentalgrp.com/.


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