A Healthy Smile Is Important for a Great Overall Appearance

Dental implants can help you look great, and feel great about your teeth, but if you want some of the best advice for keeping these installations in good condition, check out this list of dentist-recommended no-nos and things to avoid directly after getting this type of dental surgery.

1. Hard Foods

Most dentists warn their patients to avoid harder foods after dental implants. A soft diet is usually necessary for several weeks. In general, that means avoiding hard items like nuts or hard granola bars. It means avoiding items with seeds, and above all, it means not crunching ice or hard candy. Stick with safe, soft foods to avoid post-surgery complications.

2. Wine and Coffee

Another thing you don't want to do directly after dental implants is to go back to the routine that's heavy on wine, coffee or other tooth-staining materials. Your dental implants are like new carpet -- you don't want to pay to have them put in, only to start destroying them as soon as they're there. Yes, dentists maintain that dental implants are somewhat stain resistant, but they're not bulletproof. Too much of heavily staining liquids will have an effect on the look of your dental implants, so try to keep them nice for a while.

3. Smoking

Please don't smoke after getting dental implants. It's also going to tend to stain the surfaces, and it could really irritate the gums or cause complications with sensitive gums. Also, in general, there are a number of really extreme health risks associated with tobacco smoking, so getting dental implants can be just the right incentive to really kick the habit for good.

4. Ignoring Recovery Instructions

Patients who ignore the recovery instructions from their doctors do so at their own peril. There are specific diet, maintenance and hygiene recommendations given out by dentists after dental implants. These should be followed as best as possible, to make sure you get the most that you can for your money. For instance, dentists may recommend brushing daily, and looking out for various signs of complications, such as fever or excessive bleeding.

Dental implants are a significant dental procedure that offers specific benefits but also requires its own specific care. Make sure you comply with what your dentist has recommended, so that you keep those pearly whites nice and get your money's worth out of dental implant surgeries performed by qualified medical professionals.

To learn more, contact a company like Oral Surgery Associates Inc.