Dental implants require surgery. With any surgery, there is always a risk of infection. The good news is, there are things you can do to prevent infection. In fact, here are four tips to protect your oral health from infection after having dental implants installed.
Opt for Antibiotic Premedication
If your risk of infection is already high, you may have been offered antibiotic premedication. Stick to the medication your dentist gives you. Those who have suffered infections after surgery before should discuss the option of premedication with their dentist. Sometimes it is better to preempt a problem.
Most individuals will now be given a round of antibiotic premedication. Basically, this means you are given a round of antibiotics before the surgery as a preemptive strike against potential infection.
Use a Saltwater Rinse
Saltwater is an excellent natural preemptive measure against infection. You shouldn't use it within the first 24 hours, but after that it will help to protect your wounds from bacteria buildup and speed up healing.
Those with excessive bleeding will not be able to use the rinse. You should speak to your dentist to discuss other options if this is the case.
Avoid Hard Foods
Hard foods will put more stress on the implants, and you run the risk of cutting your gums or getting food stuck for bacteria to grow behind. Avoid chewing as much as possible to prevent this. Porridge, yogurts, soft cheeses, and soups are excellent options instead. Allow the implants to fully fuse with the jaw before you start eating hard foods.
Follow a Good Oral Hygiene Routine
If you didn't develop one before your implants, now is the time to focus on a good oral hygiene routine. If you have one, stick with what you were doing before. A good oral hygiene routine will remove plaque buildup, giving bacteria nothing to form under. It will also help to remove acid and sugars from the mouth, which destroy the implants.
Allowing bacteria to build will just lead to them getting into the open wounds. These wounds then get infected. If you do feel like there is an infection building, visit your dentist right away. Getting a round of antibiotics will help to protect your dental implants, so you don't need to go through more surgery.
Protecting your teeth is essential, especially after dental implants. This is surgery. Like any other surgery, it will carry the risk of infection. Taking preemptive measures and giving your mouth the best chance to heal will help prevent bacteria building, limiting the risk of infection in your mouth. For help keeping your mouth in the best shape, visit a clinic that offers general dental treatment.
Share2 August 2016
The average dentist takes many client appointments each day and also deals with emergency situations on a regular basis. Dental emergencies are very common because people are likely to put off having tooth pain fixed until the pain becomes unbearable. Some people have anxiety about dental visits, and others are trying to avoid the expense of dental care. In either case, the end result is often a dental emergency. I have worked as a professional dental hygienist for many years and have seen all types of dental emergencies. I hope that this blog will help people identify potential emergencies before they become too serious and will allow people to know when to get help.
