Dental Implant Aftercare

Maintain Your Implants for a Beautiful Smile

After your procedure is complete, the success of your dental implants largely depends on you. The foods you eat, the dental care products you choose, and other factors all contribute to the long-term health of your new teeth.

Explore our guide to learn some valuable tips for dental implant care.

The Week After Surgery

During the first few days after surgery, it’s especially important to be cautious with your new implants. Before you leave our office, Dr. Sager will provide you with some crucial guidelines to keep in mind:

1. Avoid tough, sticky, or chewy foods — Tough foods such as steak, raw vegetables, and hard bread can hurt your implant while it’s still healing. Chewy or sticky foods like caramel and taffy should also be avoided. Stick with soft foods and clear liquids for at least a few days before slowly reintroducing your favorite foods.
2. Rinse with salt water — Rinsing your mouth with salt water two to three times per day will help keep your surgical area clean and reduce inflammation. We especially recommend rinsing after you eat meals.
3. Don’t spit or use a straw — Forceful spitting or suction puts pressure on your implant and delays the healing process. Though it may be a habit, it’s very important that you don’t use a straw when drinking liquids.
4. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke — If you’re a regular smoker or drinker, you’ll need to abstain for at least the first few days after surgery. Both of these activities reduce your blood flow and dry out your mouth, negatively affecting the healing process.

Long-Term Implant Care

After you’ve fully recovered from surgery, caring for your implants becomes much easier. If you follow these simple tips, your new smile can stay beautiful for a lifetime.

Oral Hygiene Routine

The most important thing you can do for your implants is to maintain a healthy oral care routine. If the tissue around your implant becomes infected, this can lead to peri-implantitis and eventually result in implant failure.

To prevent this from occurring, brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day and floss at least once daily to eliminate bacteria from your mouth. Complete your hygiene routine by rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash to remove any remaining debris.

Choosing the Right Oral Care Products

Dental implants can be cleaned just like your natural teeth. However, it’s beneficial to keep a few factors in mind when choosing your oral care products.

For healthy, long-lasting implants, we recommend the following:

• Toothbrush — Use a soft-bristled brush to avoid irritating your gums or possibly scratching your implant post.
• Toothpaste — Stay away from toothpaste with abrasive ingredients, such as brands made for whitening or smokers.
• Floss — We recommend nylon-coated floss for gently cleaning between your implants.
• Mouthwash — Avoid brands that contain alcohol, as these can dry out your mouth.