Many seniors rely on their grown children to help take care of them. Maybe you’re used to caring for your elderly parent, but now that they’ve elected to get dental implants, you’re at a bit of a loss for knowing what to do! No worries – here are a few tips for effectively supporting them during their dental implant surgery recovery.
Their Diet Matters
What your elderly parent eats and drinks following dental implant surgery is important for 2 main reasons: they must protect the implant site, and good nutrition is essential to a speedy recovery.
Help them by shopping in advance of their surgery and stocking their kitchen with soft foods that are also high in nutrition. Some good examples are:
- Bananas.
- Eggs.
- Cottage cheese.
- Whole wheat pasta (cooked al dente).
- Refried beans.
- Creamy soups (tomato, creamy potato, broccoli and cheese).
Just be sure not to serve soup too hot; it could irritate the surgical site.
When it comes to what to drink, plenty of water is the answer. Not only does your loved one need to stay hydrated, but water keeps the mouth moist and comfortable and carries nutrients to healing tissues.
Let Them Rest
We’ve all had the common cold and know that if you want to recover from it, you have to take it easy. Same goes for surgery recovery, even more so. The body needs rest as it expends energy to repair tissues and fight off infection.
Whether they prefer their bed, recliner, or sofa, prepare your parent’s favorite resting spot by making it comfortable. Keep necessary items handy for them, like a glass of water, their medication, their phone, and the TV remote.
If you have time, handle daily chores for them for a little while: cooking, cleaning, shopping, and other general tasks they may usually do themselves.
Help Them with Their Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene habits correlate directly with the speed of recovery. Whether your older parent simply needs a reminder or needs you to do it for them, make sure their teeth are brushed twice a day and flossed once a day. Pay special attention to the implant site and gently clean around it.
Be mindful of the dentist’s aftercare instructions. They may recommend an antimicrobial mouth rinse to decrease the chances of infection.
Keep an Eye Out for Certain Reactions
Some degree of pain, soreness, or discomfort after implant surgery is to be expected and can usually be managed either by over-the-counter pain relievers or medicine prescribed by the dentist or your parent’s doctor. If while monitoring your senior parent’s progress, pain becomes especially intense or persists, swelling develops, or there is a discharge from the implant site, that’s not expected.
Contact your senior parent’s dentist right away. These are possible indicators of complications that should be treated immediately.
The best thing you can do for your senior parent during their recovery? Just be there for them. They’ll appreciate the cooking and cleaning and attention to details, but most of all, they’ll enjoy the comfort of knowing you’re close by in case they need help.
About the Practice
When it comes to benefiting from dental implants, it doesn’t matter if you’re of a certain age or a spring chicken – we welcome patients of all ages who’ve experienced tooth loss. Drs. Jeffrey Johnson and Virginia Gregory of Smile Carolina Dental Group in Mt. Pleasant, SC can perform start-to-finish dental implant care in-house, and you’re able to take advantage of flexible, low-interest financing to pay for them. Start by booking a consultation online or by phone at (843) 884-8884.
