DentistryHow to Maintain Dental Implants Regularly

One of the first things you notice when someone smiles are their teeth. A smile is often inviting and friendly. However, for those with missing teeth, you might feel self-conscious about how your smile looks. Fortunately, there are solutions to compensate for the fact that you might be missing some teeth.

The most popular and permanent way is getting dental implants. These are metal fixtures connected to your jawbone, mounted with artificial teeth. They look great and give you the confidence to show them off. Nonetheless, you still need to take care of them regularly.

Let’s go over some tips on how to maintain dental implants.

Daily Cleaning

Dental implants are not like regular teeth, so they don’t get cavities. This doesn’t mean you can skip brushing and flossing though. While they are not subject to decay, they can still get stained and the gums around them can get inflamed.

Brushing twice a day should be the standard practice for everyone, regardless of implants. The best method is first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Morning brushing cleans all the bacteria and acid off your teeth that accumulated overnight, while brushing at night removes the food particles from the day.

Use a soft-bristle toothbrush for your dental implants. You can also get specialized toothbrushes called interdental brushes, which have smaller, bristled heads to get in between teeth and around gums. Use a low abrasive toothpaste as well. Take extra time to clean around the implant because you don’t want to irritate the gums.

Floss Daily

Flossing is crucial to keeping food debris from affecting your teeth and gums. You can use unwaxed floor or implant-specific floss designed for cleaning around implants. You may need to change your technique in order to clean the implants fully. A suitable method is to wrap the floss around the tooth like a lasso to be more effective. If plaque is allowed to build up, it can lead to inflammation, bleeding gums and even bone loss.

Irrigate

Another strategy for removing debris from your dental implants is to irrigate. Brushing and flossing may not get everything and residue left over can be damaging. Use a non-alcoholic mouthwash after you brush and floss to wash away anything left behind. An anti-microbial mouth rinse is great. You can also use an oral irrigator like a water pic to gently reach areas around your implants with a soft jet of water.

Regular Dental Visits

You have spent hard-earned money on dental implants, so it’s important to get regular checkups to avoid issues. Visit your dentist or specialist every six months so they can examine your teeth, both natural and implants. If you are developing plaque or even gum disease, it’s vital to catch it early before any major damage is done.

They can do x-rays to get a more in-depth look at your teeth and do a thorough cleaning. This augments your regular, daily cleaning and is very detailed. They will also inspect all the components of your implants, check the stability, and measure your gums. Have a good relationship with your dentist because they are there to take care of your smile!

Healthy Habits

Maintaining your implants isn’t just about cleaning them. It’s also about making healthy choices about what comes into contact with them. There are things you should avoid now that you have restored your teeth.

• Smoking:Cigarettes can irritate and inflame your gums. This will weaken the gums around the implant.
• Abrasive Cleaning: Aggressive cleaning methods that you may have used on your regular teeth should be avoided. This includes baking soda, whitening and bleaching products and hard-bristled toothbrushes.
• Hard Foods:Try to avoid biting down on hard food items, which can put too much pressure on the implant. Whether it’s crusty bread, apples or chewing ice, they all can negatively affect your new implants. Eat with caution.
• Grinding Your Teeth:This could be a habit during the day or something that you do when you sleep. If you are a grinder, then consider sleeping with a mouthguard. Be aware of any habits that you may do that affect your teeth and faze them out.
• Alcohol:While drinking doesn’t have a huge impact on your dental health, it takes up to 6 months for healing after getting your implants. Alcohol can slow down that healing process.

Dental implants are a safe and successful medical procedure that millions of people have had done. Caring for your new teeth after they are put in is crucial to keeping them long-term. You may have neglected your teeth in the past, but it’s never too late to start a new, healthy habit. You want to enjoy that smile for the rest of your life, so follow these tips on caring for your teeth.

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