23 Jun How to Heal Faster After Dental Implant Surgery: 5 Recovery Tips
Dental implants are the most natural-looking and longest-lasting replacement for missing teeth. If you’re considering getting dental implants, it’s important to know what to expect during the healing process. Here are some tips from our oral surgeons on how to ensure a comfortable and speedy recovery after dental implant surgery.
Five Implant Recovery Tips to Help You Heal Faster
1: Get Plenty of Rest
One way to help your body heal faster after getting dental implants is to rest. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to help out with childcare or pet sitting if you’re the only adult at home.
Taking it easy the first couple of days after surgery is especially important. But you should also avoid strenuous exercise for at least a week after surgery.
Once you start feeling better, you still need to listen to your body so you don’t overdo it—if you feel tired, slow down and relax. It takes a lot of time, energy, and patience for your mouth to fully heal.
2: Use Ice Packs
Applying a cold compress to your face will help reduce any swelling after surgery. Wrap an ice pack in a towel, then hold it on your cheek for up to 20 minutes. To protect your skin, wait 15 to 20 minutes before applying the cold compress again to the same area.
3: Eat Soft Foods
After getting dental implants, your mouth will be too tender to chew solid foods. You’ll typically need to eat a soft food diet for up to two weeks, but your oral surgeon will let you know exactly when you can start transitioning back to solid food.
It’s crucial that you get enough nutrition during this time to help your mouth heal faster. Steamed vegetables, protein shakes, fruit smoothies, yogurt, applesauce, and mashed potatoes are all excellent sources of essential nutrients that you can eat comfortably. You also need to stay hydrated for a healthy recovery, so don’t forget to drink plenty of water.
4: Practice Good Oral Hygiene
A clean mouth promotes a beneficial environment for faster healing. After your surgery, you will receive instructions on how to properly care for your teeth while your mouth heals. Typically, you can start gently brushing your teeth and the implant sites with a soft-bristled toothbrush two days after your surgery.
You must also use a manual toothbrush while you heal, because electric toothbrush vibrations can prevent the implant from bonding to the bone properly. Similarly, mouthwash can irritate the implant sites, so you should avoid using it for a month after surgery.
5: Gently Rinse with Salt Water
Starting two days after surgery, you can add a warm salt water rinse to your oral hygiene routine. Rinsing with warm salt water helps eliminate bacteria without causing irritation. To make a saltwater rinse, mix 1 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water.
Gently swish the solution in your mouth for 30 seconds, but don’t spit—bend over the sink and let the water fall out of your mouth. Spitting during the first seven days after dental implant surgery can dislodge the blood clot that protects the implant site.
How Long Does Dental Implant Recovery Take?
The length of recovery after dental implant surgery varies for everyone. In most cases, it only takes about two weeks for the dental implant site to heal. But there are multiple stages of healing after dental implants.
Even though the implant site heals quickly, it takes up to six months for the osseointegration stage to complete, when the post bonds to the jaw bone. Next, after the bone and implant have fully fused, comes the restoration stage, which involves attaching the crown to the implant post. Healing after crown placement usually only takes a few days.
Dental Implant Surgery in Prescott, Arizona
Are you considering dental implants? Schedule a consultation at Prescott Dentistry. Our skilled oral surgeons will transform your smile with beautiful dental implants that last a lifetime. To find out if dental implants are right for you, call us at 928-445-1660 today.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (6/23/2023). Photo by Andres Ayrton on Pexels