Dental implants are a unique way to replace missing teeth long-term. They involve placing a titanium post into the jawbone where there is a missing tooth to support the artificial tooth. While this offers long-term stability, the placement process does require a recovery period, during which infection prevention is important.
After dental implant placement and other types of oral surgery, reducing the risk of oral infection is imperative. There are effective ways that you can keep your mouth clean, avoid irritating the affected area, and ultimately reduce the chances of an infection or other complications while recovering from dental implant placement.
Brushing is important after getting dental implants. All too many people reduce how much they brush out of fear that the toothbrush will cause irritation to the site of the implant. Rather, it is important to brush just as often as you normally would (or more often, if recommended by the dentist). The changes may come with the way the patient brushes their teeth. Patients should gently brush over the affected area (gums and surrounding teeth), ensuring to brush all areas. Rinse the mouth out gently, as well.
Mouthwash is effective in killing bacteria inside the mouth. This significantly reduces the risk of infection after getting dental implants. The dentist should provide detailed instructions on how often to use mouthwash each day and how to use the mouthwash effectively during each session. Some dentists may recommend the use of mouthwash but may limit how much the patient uses as too much could be detrimental to short-term and long-term health. Nevertheless, mouthwash should play an important role in the dental implant placement recovery process.
Water is one of the most overlooked components when it comes to oral infection prevention. Drinking water throughout the day helps prevent infection in several ways. Most notably, it washes away food and bacteria from the mouth, keeping the mouth clean. Dry mouth has also been known to increase the risk of an oral infection, and taking small sips of water throughout the day even when you are not thirsty can help prevent dry mouth and lower the chance of an oral infection.
Sugar creates an acidic reaction when combined with bacteria. This can cause a range of long-term complications, including gum disease and dental cavities. After getting dental implants, excessive sugar consumption can increase the risk of an oral infection as well, so it is important to not eat sugar or significantly reduce the consumption of sugar during the recovery process.
If you have experienced tooth loss and would like to learn more about dental implants or have already received dental implants and need assistance with the aftercare process, then contact our dental team today. We can answer your questions, address your concerns, and help you along your journey to a better smile with dental implants.
Request an appointment here: https://www.diamondheaddentalcare.com or call Diamond Head Dental Care at (808) 450-2101 for an appointment in our Honolulu office.
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