Oral Health: Don't Ignore Your GumsOral Health: Don't Ignore Your Gums

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Oral Health: Don't Ignore Your Gums

When you go to your dentist, you are likely concerned about cavities and the stains on your teeth. If you are like me, then you probably never thought much about your gums. Unfortunately, this caused me to form a serious gum recession condition. My dentist said that hard brushing practices, poor flossing techniques, and even the consumption of sugary foods led to the recession. After some deep scaling treatments, I was informed that I needed a gum graft procedure. The gums are extremely important to your health. They provide your teeth with the nutrients they need and they protect the sensitive dental roots. The gums even keep bacteria away from your jaw bone. Don't ignore your gums like I did. Read my blog and learn about proper oral care techniques. Prevention practices can easily save your gums from necessary restoration.

Tips To Handle Your First Few Days With Your New Dental Implants

17 October 2017
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Getting dental implants can be both exciting and a little scary, especially if you are not sure what to expect right after getting them. This is why you will want to take a little bit of time to review the following information. The more you know, the more you can prepare.

The Day You Come Home

When you first arrive home on the day that you have received your dental implants, you will want to be careful not to disturb the surgical site. This means avoid playing around that area with your tongue and do not use a toothbrush too close to the implants. Even though you may not be brushing your teeth as soon as you arrive home, you will need to at least brush your teeth that evening before you go to bed. Just avoid the surgical site and use warm salt water to help clean your entire mouth. The warm salt water can also help a lot with any discomfort that you may be feeling.

The Next Couple Of Days

You may find that the first few days after getting your dental implants will be the worst as far as pain goes. While you may be able to relieve some of the pain with over-the-counter pain medication, your dental surgeon may give you a prescription for something a little stronger. You cannot drive or operate heavy machinery when taking any prescription pain medication. You may also find that you will experience some bleeding or oozing the first few days, but it will subside quickly. If it is persistent and lasting more than a couple of days, you will need to contact your oral surgeon. There may be an infection or a problem with one of the surgical sites.

The First Week Or Two

Occasionally, you might start to feel something sharp working its way out of your gums. While not everyone will experience this, it is not uncommon and should not be a cause for alarm. It is generally nothing more than tiny bone fragments that broke off during the surgery. Because the body recognizes it as a foreign object since it is no longer a part of your jaw, it will reject it by pushing it out through your gums. Just allow it to work its way out. You should not need the assistance of your dentist for this unless the piece is very large and it becomes lodged.