How To Take Care Of Your Dental Implants?

January 15, 2020

If you want to maintain a clean and healthy set of implants, you need to understand how to care for them.

Like natural teeth, dental implants require proper and regular dental care. In fact, implants require a bit more extensive brushing and flossing than natural teeth.

Peri-implantitis is an infection that can result from the build-up of plaque and bacteria around the implant. Without regular dental care, an infection can cause an implant to separate from the gums, causing bone loss in the surrounding teeth.

A sign that you are at risk for peri-implantitis is if there is bleeding around the implant. If you notice this, it is imperative that you schedule a visit to your dentist.

Take care of your Dental Implants by practicing these good habits regularly:

Cleaning between teeth or flossing once or twice a day is a good way to care for implants. Dental tape is recommended for flossing implants. Also, water picks, an inter-dental toothbrush, and soft picks can be used to floss, as long as the tool is gentle, and its use is endorsed by your dentist. You should also use gentle, antimicrobial mouthwashes daily.

If your implant is removable, clean them while they are out of your mouth. A non-abrasive, tartar control toothpaste is also a good choice. Avoid baking soda, too much fluoride, or any toothpaste designed for smokers.

Make sure you brush gently and use a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid causing inflammation or loosening the implant. And use a tapered toothbrush. They are properly shaped to care for your gum line, where bacteria can build up.

Visit your dentist

Only your dentist has the tools and the know-how to keep your implants clean and free of destructive bacteria and plaque. These tools are specifically designed to scrape the build-up on implants. X-rays are also used to reveal excessive build-up on your implants.

A dental hygienist is also important when it comes to making sure dental implants remain disease-free. They know that traditional hygiene scalers can scratch a crown, abutment, or implant, so they use special tools made of plastic and resin to thoroughly clean your implants, without causing damage.

Despite the additional cleaning challenges of implants, they are a very effective solution. The care and maintenance of your implants will determine your level of success.

Call or contact us for more information about the benefits of Dental Implants.

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