When you lose one of your permanent teeth, your entire smile can suffer. Your smile with just one missing tooth is not what it should be and having a single-tooth implant to replace a missing tooth is ideal for a lot of patients. If you have recently gotten a single prosthetic tooth implanted to complete your smile, you should know a few tips to make sure that new tooth stays a part of your smile for a long time.
Clean your new implant with a soft-bristled toothbrush until it heals.
Your gums are naturally going to be sore after you have gotten a dental implant, but you should never avoid brushing your teeth. Clean the rest of your teeth as usual, but use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle motions to clean the newly implanted tooth and the sore areas around the new tooth. Make sure you are also using a low-abrasive toothpaste temporarily until your mouth fully heals and avoid using mouthwash.
Follow your dentist’s instructions on what to eat and what not to eat.
It is common to leave with your new implant in place and a list of do’s and don’ts to follow from the treating dentist. These rules can be a little tough at first, but they are only temporary. Most dentists will tell you to avoid eating anything really chewy or crunchy for a few days to give your mouth time to heal. During the initial healing phase after dental implant placement, it is easier to dislodge the implant in a way that will affect it long term.
Wear a mouth guard if it is recommended.
A mouthguard is placed in your mouth just before you go to sleep to keep you from grinding your teeth together. Even though implants can be just as resilient as regular teeth, grinding can damage the implanted tooth just the same, especially in the beginning while your mouth is still healing. Talk to your dentist if you have issues with grinding your teeth and wear your mouth guard religiously after surgery.
Just one new dental implant can restore both your smile and your confidence. Reach out to us at Dental Implant Center of Oklahoma for more information about single-tooth dental implants.