Toothaches: Cause, Remedies and Long-term Solutions

Posted on: 17 October 2019

Losing a tooth or multiple teeth is not an uncommon problem. Some people encounter this problem due to accidents involving facial impact. In other cases, teeth are lost due to disease and old age. If you are missing one or more teeth, you should discuss the possibility of getting implants with your dentist. Implants are favourable over other methods of replacing tooth because of their design. In simple terms, the dental implant replaces the entire tooth, including the root.

The insertion of a titanium root into the jaw prevents loss of bone and stabilises the other teeth. As a result, the replacement will not be different from a healthy natural tooth. Unfortunately, the process of placing the implant involves surgical intervention. If you go through the procedure, you must be cautious and careful to promote healing of the surgical wound. Here are some central care tips to follow after going through dental implant surgery.

Check for Anomalies

You should ensure that there are no anomalies in your wound after the dental implant surgery. Your dentist will provide information on the potential complications during the recovery process. In general, there will be some bleeding from the implant wound. However, this will decrease after a while, and the dentist will provide gauze for staunching the blood flow. If the wound continues bleeding, call your dentist. You can also expect some swelling. This is a normal reaction. You can alleviate swelling by applying ice packs over your cheeks.

Use Prescribed Drugs

Dentists will often prescribe medication after a dental implant procedure. The drugs are primarily meant for managing the pain once the surgical anaesthesia wears off. It is advisable to use the medicine prescribed by the doctor. Do not switch because alternatives could have adverse effects on your healing process. For instance, some painkillers have side effects like blood thinning and formation of oral sores. These adverse effects will interfere with your recovery. If the dentist provides antibiotics, ensure that the dosage instructions are not neglected. In addition, use a microbial wash or rinse if the doctor recommends it to prevent microbial buildup.

Avoid Intense Activity

Finally, you should avoid aggravating your dental implant site by taking part in vigorous exercise. Physically demanding activities will cause the pain in your affected jaw to escalate. This could be detrimental to your recovery. Also, the constant movement might increase the risk of swelling because fluid around the wound might not drain properly. Therefore, limit your activities after the surgery until there is considerable healing.