As your dentist has probably told you, it will take time for you to recover from dental implant surgery. And the aftercare during that time is particularly important if you want to avoid a lot of discomfort and pain as well as minimize the risk of other complications.

If you want to know exactly what you need to do after your dental implant surgery, here are five crucial tips you need to follow:

• Avoid aggravating the area

The most important thing to keep in mind after you’ve gone through your surgery is to avoid aggravating the affected area – especially during the first 24 to 48 hours. In particular you should not touch it, rinse your mouth too vigorously, or consume hot food and drinks.

• Maintain proper oral hygiene

Although you don’t want to aggravate the affected area, you still need to maintain your oral hygiene. If you don’t you run the risk of infection – which can lead to implant failure.

Initially you should use a soft toothbrush with a small head to brush around the affected area and clean all your other teeth. After a few days you should be able to brush the dental implant site.

• Try to control the bleeding

Bleeding is to be expected after dental implant surgery and can often continue for up to 72 hours. That said you should try to keep it under control by biting down on gauze for about an hour every six to ten hours.

During this period it would also be a good idea to relax, avoid strenuous physical activities, and sit upright.

• Minimize discomfort with icepacks and painkillers

Some pain and discomfort is normal for the first three or four days post-surgery. It can be minimized by using icepacks to reduce the swelling, as well as taking over-the-counter painkillers to reduce the discomfort levels.

Try to start taking painkillers on the first day before the anesthesia from the surgery completely wears off. However always be sure to follow the recommended dosage.

• Get lots of rest

To make sure your recovery goes smoothly you need to get lots of rest and sleep at least eight hours every day. Physical exertion and stress are both bad, so you should try to take a few days off from work if necessary.

Following these tips should help you to recover much faster after you’ve installed dental implants while avoiding complications at the same time. However if you find that you’re in too much pain, or unable to stop the bleeding you should immediately consult your dentist. Be sure to also keep an eye out for any other signs of infection – such as swelling, fever, redness, or a loose implant.

As you can see, dental implant aftercare really isn’t all that complicated. All you need to do is be a little careful and know what to do to help the area heal as best as possible. If you have any doubts whatsoever you should ask your dentist for more advice on what you can do.