Will you soon undergo dental implant surgery? Your oral surgeon will provide you with detailed post-op instructions to help you enjoy a smooth recovery. Those instructions will include tips on both what you should do and what you should not do. In this blog post, we discuss some activities that fall into the latter category.
Smoking
Smoking is bad for dental implants in numerous ways. It can slow down your body’s healing process and increase your risk of infection. The action of sucking in the smoke even presents the risk of dislodging the blood clots at your surgical sites. Ideally, you should quit smoking altogether prior to your surgery. If you cannot do that, you should at least forgo smoking for a few weeks before and after your procedure. To mitigate the effects of nicotine withdrawal, you might be able to use a nicotine patch.
Intense Exercise
Intense exercise can increase blood flow and increase bleeding at your surgical sites. Plus, you are likely to be tired, and you may not feel like working out. Although it will be no problem for you to walk and carry out other daily tasks, strenuous activity should be avoided for at least a few days after your surgery.
Vigorous Rinsing
Keeping your surgical sites clean is important, and you might use a mouthwash or saltwater to help you do that. However, it is important that you do not rinse too vigorously. Doing so could disturb your surgical sites. Instead, gently swish the liquid around your mouth. Then, instead of spitting it out, simply let out flow out of your mouth into the sink.
Eating Hard or Hard Foods
Hard and hot/spicy foods may cause you discomfort and slow down your body’s healing process. To prevent problems, it would be best to avoid such foods for at least a few days. Instead, temporarily stick to soft foods that require little to no chewing. If you still have enough natural teeth left to chew, you may be able to resume a fairly normal diet after the soft tissue at your implant sites has sufficiently recovered.
Drinking through a Straw
Just like smoking, drinking through a straw can disturb the blood clots over your dental implants and impede the healing process. Try to avoid straws for at least three days.
Deviating from Your Oral Surgeon’s Instructions
Some of your surgeon’s post-op instructions might seem a little inconvenient or restrictive, but it’s important to keep in mind that they are for your own good — and they are temporary. Do your best to take medications as instructed, keep up with oral hygiene, and comply with their other recommendations.
There is no need to be nervous about dental implant surgery. With a few simple precautions, you can expect to enjoy an easy recovery.
Meet the Practice
Drs. Steve Koo and William Shepard are the board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons in our practice. They provide dental implant placement and a range of other services. If you have questions about what you can expect after oral surgery, they would be happy to speak with you. Contact our Katy office at 832-353-1100.