Day: March 2, 2023

Dental implants are a well-liked and effective solution to restore your smile and replace missing teeth. Implants mimic the look, feel, and function of natural teeth and provide the additional benefit of supporting adjacent teeth.

Similar to your natural teeth, you need to maintain your dental implants with regular care to get the most out of them and to ensure they last.

Continue reading to be on top of your dental implant maintenance!

Apply the Basics of Good Oral Hygiene

You should maintain good oral hygiene habits with both natural teeth and dental implants. This includes brushing twice daily and flossing daily. Be sure to brush thoroughly around the implants. This will help reduce the risk of gum inflammation and tenderness.

Enable Regular Preventive Care 

It is necessary to visit your dentist regularly (twice a year) for check-ups. This will allow the dentist to check for any problems and take preventive measures to protect your implants. If your dentist detects any issues, they can help to address them quickly and avoid long-term damage.

Choose an Appropriate Toothbrush

Using a soft-bristled toothbrush when brushing around your implants is essential. A hard-bristled toothbrush can cause abrasion, which can lead to implant failure. In order to ensure your toothbrush remains effective, you should replace it every three to four months. 

Additionally, it is important to brush your teeth and implant carefully and gently, using a circular motion, and avoid using a lot of pressure. This will help to protect your implant from damage.

Using a Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride toothpaste is important because it helps to protect your enamel. This is especially important if you have implants because protecting your enamel helps to prevent gum inflammation and tenderness.

Also, any kind of abrasion can harm your implants, too. Use a special low-abrasive toothpaste as a result. Regular toothpaste has a reputation for being very abrasive in removing plaque and stains, but too much grit damages dental implants and enamel.

Avoid Hard and Sticky Foods

You should avoid hard and sticky foods when you have dental implants. Hard foods such as popcorn, nuts, and hard candy can cause damage to the implant, whereas sticky foods such as caramel, toffee, and gum can get stuck around the implant. 

Implant-supported bridges and crowns can be damaged if these hard and sticky foods are not avoided. Additionally, it is important to chew your food carefully, as biting down on hard foods can cause damage to the implant. 

If You Grind Your Teeth, Use a Mouthguard

Teeth grinding, commonly referred to as bruxism, can harm both your natural teeth and dental implants in the long run. Your implants are under extreme pressure from the high force, which could have long-term effects. 

If your dentist determines that you clench or grind your teeth, you should choose a bespoke mouthguard to safeguard your teeth.

Quit Smoking and Use Mouthwash

Smoking is damaging to your natural as well as dental implants. It is important to quit smoking to avoid damaging the implants. Additionally, it is important to use mouthwash to reduce plaque and bacteria buildup around the implants. 

Conclusion

You should be aware of any potential risks associated with dental implants, such as infection and damage to surrounding teeth. If you experience any pain, swelling, or bleeding around your implants, contact your dentist immediately. 

Following the advice of your dentist and practicing good oral hygiene can help to ensure that your dental implants last for many years to come. 

Pickering Dental Services provides high-quality dental implants in Pickering! We care about your entire family—from children to seniors. 

We offer the greatest dental services while ensuring your comfort by utilizing the most recent advancements in the dental industry. Book your appointment with us today!

Your smile is one of your best assets, and anybody would know that it can be disheartening to lose a tooth or multiple teeth. Besides negatively impacting your self-esteem and appearance, it can also increase your risk of gum diseases and bone loss. Moreover, missing teeth can affect how you talk and eat. 

Fortunately, treatments like dental implants are a long-term solution to restore your smile and improve your oral health. While treating yourself after the treatment may be tempting, you should know the best and worst foods. 

If you want to ensure their durability, this article will enumerate the best and worst foods to consume after dental implants. We’ll also provide more tips for protecting your new set of teeth.

What to Consume Immediately after Getting Dental Implants

It’s not surprising if you wake up hungry after getting dental implants. You should wait an hour before having your first snack and take it nice and slow during the first two days after the treatment. This section will enumerate what you should consume post-surgery. 

1. Drink Lots of Water 

Like other post-treatment tips, dentists recommend drinking plenty of water to help you stay healthy and your body recover. This step is especially crucial if you’ve undergone a general anesthesia procedure. 

2. Stick to Consuming Liquids

If you want to sip on something after the procedure, you can consume gentle liquids like cold soups, broths, applesauce, smoothies, protein drinks, and juices. However, if you’re considering fruit-based beverages, only consume them in moderation because the acidity can harm your teeth. 

3. Don’t Drink through a Straw or Water Bottle

Never drink through a straw or water bottle after a dental implant treatment because it involves suctioning the liquid, which can pressure the treated area and hinder the clotting process. 

4. Don’t Drink Anything Hot

Never eat anything hot food or drinks immediately after the treatment. While soups may help post-surgery, you should only eat them at a cool temperature. 

5. Don’t Smoke or Drink Alcoholic Beges

Never consume any alcohol or tobacco products after a dental implant surgery because it can slow the healing process, increase the risk of infection, and cause implant failure. 

What to Eat Weeks after the Dental Implant Surgery

You should wait 48 hours after the procedure before adding soft foods to your diet. As your gums heal, you can introduce more solid foods that need more chewing and carefully chew near the implant site at the end of their first-week post-surgery. While you may initially experience slight discomfort, you should contact your dentist if the pain persists. 

For the first ten to 14 days post-surgery, patients should eat soft foods like cooked cereal grains, mashed potatoes, eggs, dairy products, and leafy greens. You can also add soft-cooked fish. Moreover, dentists recommend consuming foods rich in protein and Vitamin C because they’ll aid in the healing process. 

What Not to Eat

After knowing the best foods, you should also know what to avoid after a dental implant procedure. Patients should always avoid crunchy, chewy, sticky, spicy foods and large quantities of acidic foods. 

Other Ways to Take Care of Your Dental Implants 

While eating the right foods and avoiding bad habits are crucial in caring for your dental implants, remember that the work doesn’t stop there. Immediately after surgery, you should avoid electric toothbrushes and water-flossing devices because they can be too vigorous. Instead, you should use a traditional toothbrush and floss to clean your teeth gently. That way, dental implants can remain durable and healthy and improve self-confidence and oral health.

Conclusion

Dental implants can help improve your self-confidence and oral health. Knowing what to eat and avoid after the procedures and practising good habits can ensure a full recovery. 

If you need high-quality dental implants in Pickering, visit Pickering Dental Services! Our dentists provide our patients with the best preventative dental care to help you and your family enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles. Schedule an appointment now!