Dental implants can completely revitalize a smile, but it’s important to follow aftercare tips when your surgery is complete to prevent further oral health issues. The procedure leaves your mouth in a sensitive state, which can make it easy for you to create problems that require more dental care. Use the following guide, along with your oral surgeon’s advice, for the best outcome.

4 Dental Implant Aftercare Tips

1. Good Oral Hygiene is Important to help Prevent Infection

You can brush your teeth as you normally would but just be careful brushing around the surgical site.  Your oral surgeon may prescribe you an antibacterial mouth wash.  Use it as directed.  Rinse and soak the area in hot salt water to help cleanse and area and decrease swelling.

2. Apply Ice to the Sore Area

Swelling is normal after surgery, along with some discomfort. One of the best ways to manage this is with an ice pack. For the first 24 hours, apply ice to your cheek intermittently for 15 minutes. Remove the pack, wait 15 minutes, then reapply it, repeating as needed. The cold will reduce swelling and also numb the area to resolve light pain.  Do not apply frozen peas for prolonged periods. 

3. Chew On the Other Side of Your Mouth

You may enjoy a regular diet provided you chew on the opposite side of your mouth.  If you are unsure then stick with soft non-chew diet.  This means nothing harder than scrambled eggs.

4. Get Rest

Rest is essential when it comes to recovery. If you exercise or overexert yourself, you may experience pain, throbbing or bleeding around the surgical site.  It’s best to take a day or two off from both work and exercise to rest.

If you’re exploring dental care options in the Honolulu area, contact Lyle C. Yanagihara, DDS, MS. Dr. Ynagihara offers an extensive scope of oral surgery services, including dental implant surgery, wisdom tooth removal, and bone grafting. He’ll work closely to ensure your needs are met so you can enjoy a healthy smile. Call (808) 973-1433 to schedule a consultation and visit his website to learn more.