I have always been an avid hockey player, and my love took a bad turn one day when I got struck in the mouth with the puck. It was a painful moment that left me with two teeth knocked out of my mouth. Had I taken the right steps after the accident, I could have possibly saved the teeth, but I did not know I had that option at the time. Thankfully, I worked up the courage to visit a dentist and ask what my options for teeth-replacement were. I was worried I would would have to live the rest of my life without smiling, but I was ecstatic to learn that I was the perfect candidate for dental implants. I created this blog to help others realize that there are so many options to replace missing teeth today that no one has to "just live with" an imperfect smile!
Having dental implants put into your mouth is an excellent way to replace your missing teeth. Implants stimulate the jaw bone, so you do not experience bone loss, and once you are healed, they look and work just like natural teeth. Before you get to that point, however, you need to make it through the recovery period. Regardless of the implant procedure, from a few implants to an all on 4 implant rehabilitation, here are four tips to help ease your dental implant recovery.
Stock up on soft foods.
For at least a few weeks after implant surgery, you'll need to stick to soft foods. Initially, you'll want very soft foods that don't require any chewing—like yogurt and applesauce. Slowly, you can add softer foods that require a little chewing—like soft pasta and soft fruits. To keep yourself from getting bored on this restrictive diet, make sure you buy a variety of foods. Different sauces, like pesto and alfredo, can make pasta dishes taste completely different. Mix-ins like flax seed, peanut butter, and chopped strawberries can add variety to yogurt. Keeping your diet varied will ensure you eat enough to satisfy your nutrient needs, and promote good healing.
Take pain relievers before the pain sets in.
Your dentist will probably recommend taking over-the-counter pain relievers to keep your discomfort at bay. It's best to do this, before the pain actually sets in. Pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen work, in part, by keeping inflammation down. If you take them before the inflammation and pain set in, you can prevent the swelling in the first place, which will speed the healing process.
Rinse your mouth with salt water.
Do not just rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth or eating. Keep mixing up that salt water, and use it to swish your mouth every couple of hours. The salt helps suck moisture out of your gum tissue, helping to reduce inflammation and pain. It also kills bacteria, preventing an infection. You need to keep up with the salt water rinses to make the most of these effects.
Take it easy.
You may be tempted to rush back to work after your implant surgery, but if you can possibly afford to take some time off, this is the thing to do. When you rest and keep your stress levels down, you speed up your healing process. Plus, you can focus on getting better nutrition and keeping your mouth clean. Give yourself a week off, if you can. Two weeks is even better.
Share28 December 2017
