Avoid spitting, bending over, sucking through a straw, and rinsing for 24 hours. No strenuous physical activity or smoking for 10 days. Oral mouth rinse should be continued for 2 weeks if prescribed.
For the average patient, three or four days of rest will suffice after dental implant surgery. Tenderness and some swelling are normal and will subside within the first few days. Many dentists recommend having the implant surgery mid-week, allowing for a day or two off from work plus the weekend to recover.
After implant treatment avoid rinsing your mouth and try not to disturb the surgical site with your tongue or fingers for the rest of the day. This may cause bleeding by dislodging the blood clot that has formed. Don't spit, suck on straws or smoke. This can also dislodge blood clots and slow down the healing process.
Go home to rest and relax. We recommend taking the day off of work, if possible. Though some patients do work the day after their surgery, having an extra day to heal can be beneficial.
Keep physical activities to a minimum for several days following surgery. Avoid bending over, heavy lifting, or straining. Keep in mind that you are probably not taking normal nourishment. This may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.
If you feel comfortable enough after the first day, then you can choose to lay on your side, but continue to keep your body elevated, with your neck still above heart level.
During the first 24-48 hours after your dental implants are placed, your gums will be tender and slightly swollen. Because of this, you should stick to soft foods or liquids immediately after your procedure.
You will likely feel some moderate pain and discomfort near the surgical site for at least 3 days (72 hours). Placing an implant does involve cutting into bone and gum tissue, so this is normal and to be expected. You may also notice bleeding, swelling, and bruising of the implant site.
Light to moderate exercise the day following surgery will help reduce swelling and help you feel well. Get up, move around, take a shower, and participate in normal activities as much as possible.
To keep your dental implant securely in place for decades to come, a small titanium post will be placed into your jawbone. Since this requires oral surgery, it's completely natural to feel a little tired or sore afterwards. After all, your mouth needs time to adapt to the major change it just underwent.
After about 5 days, your pain and discomfort should subside quite a bit. After about a week, your mouth will feel mostly normal again.
Warm salt water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day as well, especially after meals. Brush your teeth and the healing abutments. Be gentle initially while brushing the surgical areas.
Blood flow to the head is increased when lying down.
When you lie down, the body increases blood flow to your head. If you have a cavity, cracked tooth, or other dental emergency, increased blood flow to the head means more swelling and inflammation.
For the first 2 days, your diet should be softer, and avoid hot liquids or chewing on the implant or bone graft site. After 48 hours, it is usually safe to resume your normal diet but try to avoid chewing on the surgical site for as long as possible.
#1: Alcohol Interferes with Osseointegration
During this process, the bone tissue grows into tiny pores on the implant surface. Osseointegration is essential for the long-term health of your implant. Drinking alcohol can disrupt this process and lead to implant failure.
How Long Will It Take For Pain from an Implant to Subside? In most cases, the discomfort will peak within about 3-5 days after your treatment, and then begin to subside relatively quickly. By the end of your first week post-surgery, you should be feeling little, if any, discomfort and pain.
After implant surgery, your gums are healing from having an incision made through them. It is vitally important that you avoid drinking hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate after the procedure itself for up to two or three days.
You may eat soft, cool foods the first day like jello, applesauce, yogurt, pudding, ice cream, smoothies and milkshakes. Avoid using a straw for a week. You may start eating warm foods the day after surgery. Avoid hard, crunchy foods for several weeks in the area that the implant was placed.
Take Time for a Full Recovery From Dental Implant Surgery
Strenuous activity right after surgery can delay the healing process. For this reason, patients who are scheduled for a dental implant should plan to take at least two days away from their regular routine.
When it comes to sleeping position following dental surgery, it is a good idea to make sure to elevate the head. A good angle to achieve while sleeping is 45 degrees. You should sleep in the position for the first 36 to 48 hours following the surgery.
Your pain may be accompanied by swelling, inflammation, bruising, and tenderness near the treatment site(s). For most patients, this pain will peak sometime between 48-72 hours after surgery, and will then begin to fade relatively quickly. Overall, the pain you'll experience is relatively minor.
Following oral surgery, we recommend that you sleep with your head and shoulders propped up above your heart level. Add an extra pillow or two to your bed or to the place where you will be resting. If you have a recliner, this is also an excellent way to keep your head elevated.