When I had a badly decayed tooth extracted, I got a partial denture to fill in the gap. I didn't mind it at first, because I was just so happy to have my painful tooth out of my mouth. Over time, I began to get tired of taking it out at night. I asked my dentist if I was could get a dental implant, and he said that my gum disease did not make me a good candidate, but a fixed bridge may be a good option for me. I went with his suggestion, and I have no regrets. I love feeling like I have a real tooth again that I don't have to remove at night. I created this blog to remind other people with a missing tooth that they have many replacement options, and if one is not for you, then try another that may be right.
Having a dental implant is a great way to help fill out your smile, ensure that your teeth do not collapse around the gap, and generally make you feel more confident. However, a dental implant requires the dentist to make or deepen a hole in order to make sure that the dental implant can be put in so that it is deep enough and therefore stable. This hole can increase your risk of infection. Here are some tips for reducing the chances that you get infected while the hole from your dental implant is still healing.
1. Get Rid of Anything In Your Mouth That's Not Supposed to Be There
Your first step is to get rid of anything in your mouth that's not supposed to be there after you eat. This means taking the time to brush and floss frequently. If you are using traditional floss, you should floss once a day in order to make sure that you are getting everything that is in the cracks of your teeth but not eroding your gums too badly. If you are using something like water flossing, you can floss more often because it is gentler on your gums. If you are experiencing a lot of soreness and swelling after you get your implant, you might be tempted to not brush your teeth or floss. Do not succumb to this temptation. Instead, use a super soft toothbrush and brush carefully to prevent any pain or bleeding. Water flossers can sometimes be more comfortable than traditional flossers.
When brushing, make sure that you are brushing both at the gum line and below it. This will increase the chances that you get rid of all of the bacteria in your mouth that could cause infection.
2. Stop Smoking
Not smoking is often easier said than done for many people. It is definitely best that you give up smoking in the long run if you are a smoker, but you should definitely consider at least temporarily giving it up while the gums around your dental implant heal. This will allow you to reduce the number of foreign, potentially infected items that you put in your mouth and increase your body's ability to fight off illness. You can always go back to smoking after your dental implants have healed, even though it's not the best for you.
For more information, talk to professionals that specialize in dental implants such as John P Poovey DMD PC.
Share18 October 2016
