How you look after your mouth in the weeks after implant surgery helps the implant fuse with the bone. Here is what to expect and what to do.
The first 24 hours
Some bleeding is normal. Bite gently on a gauze pad for thirty minutes. Do not rinse, spit forcefully or drink through a straw on the first day, as this can disturb the blood clot. Rest, and keep your head raised when lying down.
Swelling and discomfort
Swelling usually peaks on the second or third day. Hold a cold pack to your cheek for twenty minutes at a time. Take painkillers as your dentist advised; most patients need them for only a few days.
Eating
Stick to soft, cool food for the first few days: yoghurt, soup that is not hot, scrambled eggs, pasta. Chew on the other side. Avoid hard, crunchy and very spicy food until the area has healed.
Cleaning
From the second day, rinse gently with warm salt water after meals. Brush your other teeth as normal, and clean carefully around the implant site with a soft brush once your dentist says it is safe.
Smoking
Smoking slows healing and is one of the main reasons implants fail. If you can, stop for at least two weeks after surgery, and ideally for good.
When to call us
Call the clinic if bleeding is heavy, if swelling gets worse after the third day, or if you have a fever. Read more about dental implant treatment.
Pearl Bay Dental Clinic is a fictional demo business. This website is a test site and offers no real dental services.
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