How to properly recover from dental implant surgery

 After dental implant surgery, you may feel various emotions, from excitement to anxiety. Here're some tips on managing your recovery and feeling confident in your new smile.

Avoid drinking fluids for hours after surgery

According to the experts, it is important not to drink fluids for hours after dental surgery. This is because fluids can irritate the newly implanted dental implant and lead to infection. Instead, sip on cold water or tea for the first few hours post-op.

Take ibuprofen and paracetamol

Ibuprofen and paracetamol should be taken after dental implant surgery to help reduce pain and reduce inflammation. Ibuprofen can be taken throughout the day, while paracetamol can be taken hourly initially and every four hours as needed. It's also advised to drink a lot of water to help flush out any toxins that might have developed during the procedure.

Keep a stiff upper lip

Do not worry if you experience some depression following your dental implant surgery. It's not just you. Dental implant surgery recovery can come as a shock, but that's normal. This advice will help the procedure go as smoothly as possible:

Be patient. The healing process can take up to six weeks, but it will improve with time. Don't expect to feel 100% right away; you might only initially feel 80-90% recovered. This is perfectly normal, so relax and take it easy.
Make sure you're eating well. If you don't have any teeth left over after your surgery, your body may start eating away at your implants to restore lost nutrients. So ensure you're getting enough roughage and protein in your diet to help support your healing process.
Take plenty of rest. Your body will experience many changes during recovery, and things could get messy quickly if you don't give it the time it needs. Try to get 7-hours of sleep each night and keep stress to a minimum while recovering.
Don't eat/drink anything other than clear liquids for the first hours

After surgery, eat or drink light liquids. Avoid eating hard foods until the area around your implant has healed. This usually takes four to six hours.

Try a bland diet such as soup, broth, ice cream or yoghurt when you can begin eating soft foods. Do not eat anything with sugar or flavouring. Wait at least 72 hours before trying any solid food.

Get plenty of rest and exercise lightly after surgery to help speed the healing process.

Eat bland foods to reduce swelling

It is important to follow a bland diet to reduce swelling when recovering. In addition, it will help to prevent any further pain or discomfort and will help to speed up the healing process. Foods generally considered bland include whitefish, chicken, eggs, yoghurt, and water.

Report any pain or discomfort immediately

If you experience a fever, chills, or tenderness at any time after surgery, contact your dentist immediately
If you experience difficulty breathing, notify your doctor or dentist immediately
Do not eat anything for two hours after surgery
Avoid drinking fluids for two hours after surgery
If you are using any pain reliever, take it as prescribed by your dentist