If you have a missing tooth or a tooth that needs to be pulled, you may be wondering what you are going to do to fill that gap. Even though you have several options that your cosmetic dentist will show you, you may want to consider dental implants. Why? Unlike other oral devices that feel a bit more temporary, dental implants are surgically implanted into your gums, which makes them feel a lot more permanent. Additionally, they also tend to look a lot better than some of your other options. In order to make sure that your dental implants heal as well as possible, this article will take a closer look at a few things that you can do. Read on to learn more.

Rinse the Area

As your gums are healing after you get dental implant surgery, you need to keep the area clean. If food or germs get trapped in your gums, an infection may occur. In order to keep the area clean, gently rinse with some lukewarm water and salt. The lukewarm water will help to calm the area while the salt will help to disinfect it.

Watch What You Eat

While your gums are healing, make sure that you watch what you are heating. If you eat foods that are harder to chew, it is going to be harder for your gums to recover. Specifically, foods like steak and apples may get lodged inside of your gums, which can lead to an infection. This, in turn, could really slow down the healing process. Instead, try to eat foods that are soft and do not require much chewing, like sweet potatoes, smoothies, soft shredded chicken, or mashed potatoes.

Take NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are another thing that will help to speed up your recovery. Not only will they help you to get rid of any pain that you may be experiencing, but they will also help you combat swelling. Just make sure that you consult with your primary care physician before you start taking NSAIDs so that they do not interfere with any other medications that you are on.

Dental implants are one of the best oral appliances for patients who have a missing tooth or several missing teeth. If you want to learn more about dental implants or want to schedule an appointment, make sure that you contact your cosmetic dentist as soon as possible.