Have you decided to go through the process of getting dental implants? If so, what you do during the recovery process is going to be key to the implants successfully integrating with your jawbone. Here are some tips that will help you through those first few days.

Apply Gently Pressure with Gauze 

You'll likely be sent home with some gauze to help stop the bleeding after the surgery is finished. You'll want to bite down gently on this gauze to help apply pressure and stop the area from actively bleeding. Feel free to swap out the old gauze for new material if it is saturated in blood. You'll want to moisten the new gauze before you put it in your mouth.

Apply a Cold Pack to Your Face

The best way to deal with swelling will be to apply a cold pack to your face. You should avoid using heat, because that will bring blood to the surgical site and make the swelling worse. Just gently place the cold pack against your face to feel the relief. 

Don't Touch Your Face If You Received a Bone Graft

It's important that you avoid touching or massaging your face if you had a bone graft performed prior to receiving dental implants. You need the bone to heal properly without any outside pressure being applied to it, so you must let it heal naturally to avoid any complications.

Don't Drink Alcohol or Smoke

If you have a smoking habit, you are going to want to give that up after the surgery. That is because smoking can create pressure in your mouth by sucking through the cigarette, which can be bad for the dental implant. In addition, smoking is not great for your oral health either, and it is best to give it up entirely. Drinking should also be avoided as well, due to how it inhibits blood flow. 

Don't Do Any Physical Activity

Know that physical activities such as working out or playing sports increase the risk for bleeding from your surgical site by getting your blood flowing. It is best to avoid these activities for several days to be safe. Even simple activities such as mowing your lawn can put a lot of stress on your body. 

Don't Eat Very Hot or Spicy Foods

You should stick to soft and cold foods after dental implant surgery. Avoid eating anything that is hot in temperature or spicy if you want the surgical site to heal properly. Spicy foods can actually cause irritation to your gums and be bad for the healing process and your comfort. Hot foods can also irritate the implants as well.