How to Maintain Dental Implants
There are a number of steps you can take to ensure the health and integrity of your dental implants. Your periodontist will provide you with a complete list of oral hygiene recommendations for dental implant care and maintenance. In the meantime, here are a few guidelines and tips for taking care of dental implants.
1) Visit your dentist regularly.
First and foremost, ensure that you see your dentist on a regular basis. Dental implants benefit from routine cleanings in the same way your natural teeth do. Not only will your dentist be able to identify any early signs of dental implant failure, potentially making a decisive intervention, but your hygienist will carefully remove plaque that has built up around your gums. Proper care of dental implants significantly reduces your risk of peri implantitis.
2) Brush your teeth.
Again, it is important to care for dental implants like you would care for your natural teeth. That means brushing at least twice daily using a soft-bristle brush. A low-abrasive toothpaste with tartar control is recommended, and your dentist can recommend a specific brand if need be.
3) Floss twice daily.
In addition to brushing, also be sure to floss. Get in between the teeth and the abutments. (Abutments are the connective pieces that attach the implant to the dental prosthesis.) You may benefit from using an oral irrigator, also known as a water flosser. Water flossers are especially recommended for patients who have been treated with the All-on-4® dental implant method. Your periodontist can provide further detail on the long-term care of dental implants after full mouth dental implants.
4) Use a mouth rinse.
Antimicrobial mouth rinses can help prevent the buildup of bacteria in your mouth. In doing so, these mouth rinses can reduce your risk of implant infection or peri-implantitis. Talk to your periodontist about whether a mouth rinse is right for you.
5) Abstain from smoking.
Smoking can be detrimental to your maintenance of dental implants and recovery, as it slows the body’s natural healing processes. For this reason, we urge patients to stop smoking before and immediately following their dental implant procedure. However, to promote your long-term care of dental implants, it is best to simply give up tobacco products altogether.
6) Be careful with your diet.
One of the great things about getting dental implants is that you can eat and drink practically anything you want, without making many lifestyle adjustments. However, we recommend letting your coffee and tea cool a bit before you start drinking. Steer clear of super-hard foods, including raw vegetables. Also, avoid sticky candies, like taffy and gum. For more dental implant tips, learn more about what to eat after dental implant surgery.
7) Stop chewing on ice.
We recommend refraining from chewing on ice or hard, crunchy food for optimal dental implant maintenance care. Ice is a very hard substance, and it can cause your replacement tooth to become damaged.
8) Be alert.
Vigilance is one of the best lines of defense against implant failure. Learn about some of the common signs of implant failure and seek treatment at the first sign that something is wrong. Early intervention can often save your implants. In particular, seek peri-implantitis care from your periodontist if you notice pain or swelling around your dental implants or if you sense that your implants have become loose.
9) Follow dental implant aftercare instructions carefully.
After your initial dental implant procedure, you will receive a full list of post-op instructions to ensure a speedy recovery. You must follow these tooth implant care guidelines carefully for as long as your periodontist tells you. Compliance with these recovery guidelines can ultimately help you prevent early implant failure resulting from improper healing.
10) Talk to your periodontist.
Finally, remember that your periodontist is in your corner and wants to do anything possible to ensure the long-term success of your dental implants. If you ever have any questions or concerns about dental implant hygiene, do not hesitate to reach out to Metrolina Periodontics & Dental Implants directly.
