After getting all-on-4 dental implants in Jacksonville by Universal Dental Jax, you still need to take proper care of them to ensure their longevity. Otherwise, you may end up back where you started.
Much research has also shown that specific care techniques can help to extend the lifespan of a dental implant. Some of these techniques are:
Brushing & Flossing
One of the important things you need to do after getting dental implants is to change your toothbrush to a softer one that is gentle on dental implants. You should avoid using toothbrushes with hard bristles or metal instruments because they can scratch the surface of dental implants. Proxabrushes are also good for cleaning hard-to-reach areas surrounding them. Ensure you brush and floss twice daily.
Avoid Smoking and Alcohol Consumption
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are generally bad for your health, so it’s not nice on dental implants as well. Once you get a dental implant, you should stop smoking and drinking. Or at least limit its use. Dental implants take close to six months to heal fully, so smoking within this period is highly detrimental. Also, several reports have shown that alcohol consumption can prevent dental implants from healing fast.
Avoid Sticky Foods
Consuming sticky or hard foods can damage your dental implants and opposing teeth. So before eating any food, you should first think of how it could affect them. Some of the foods to avoid after getting dental implants are ice, dried fruits, hardshell tacos, crusty bread, caramel, steak, carrots, hard candies, apples, and potato chips.
Go For Regular Dental Visits
Even after getting a successful dental implant, it doesn’t mean you should stop communicating with your dentist. It would be best if you went for dental checkups at least twice a year. Doing this can help to ensure your dental implants last forever. During your visit, your dentist can address any minor issue and offer more useful tips on how to care for your dental implants.
Immediate Aftercare Tips
After getting dental implants, there’s a high chance that you’ll experience pain in your dental region for the next twenty-four hours. You can also experience bleeding. To control the bleeding, it’s a good idea to bite the sponges placed in your mouth during the procedure. Other useful tips include:
- Don’t drive home after the procedure
- Don’t rinse your mouth for the next twenty-four hours
- Don’t move around excessively after the first 8 to 12 hours
- Put an ice pack on your face and hold it down for a 15-minute interval
- Eat only soft foods and beverages for the next twenty-four hours
- Use prescribed medications only
How To Follow Your Dental Implant Care Procedures
Following a dental care routine can be hard, especially when you have lots of daily activities to cater to. Here are some effective tips that can help you follow your dental care routine adequately:
Set A Reminder On Your Phone
Since you probably set a timer for other important things in your life, it’s not a bad idea to do it for dental care routines as well. It makes things easier for you. Additionally, you can ask your loved ones to remind you.
Stash Floss in Your Purse Or Car
When you have floss with you at all times, it’ll be easy for you to make good use of any spare time you have. Remember, you need to take care of your Waterpik more than you’ve been doing.
Reward Yourself
Rewarding yourself by booking a day at the spa or doing other things you love after following your dental routine can encourage you to do more. Set challenges for yourself and increase the reward based on how much you’re able to achieve.
Do It When Watching TV
Carrying out dental routines like flossing while watching TV or doing other fun things can help take your mind away from the stress. Investing in a Waterpik can also make flossing less stressful.
Think Of The Benefits
When you constantly remind yourself of the benefits associated with following your dental care routines, it can motivate you to follow them. On the other hand, thinking of the disadvantages of not following your dental care routines can also make you do the right thing.
Dental implants care routines are pretty easy to follow. Once you have the right mindset and resources, you’re good to go. If you’ve already gotten a dental implant or you’re yet to get one, don’t let the care routine discourage you. It’s very similar to normal dental care routines.
