5 Things You Need to Know About Caring for Dental Implants

1. Clean Twice a Day

Dental implants give new smiles to people without all of their own teeth. No matter the size or amount of implants, they need care just like regular teeth. Brush and floss your dental implants twice each day. Use gauze or special floss to floss around your teeth, gums and abutments each day. The abutments are the devices that attach to the implants.

2. Best Brushing

Brush your fixed dental implants just like regular teeth. Brush all teeth thoroughly and pay special attention to back teeth and in between teeth. Use a soft bristle brush with a bent handle for cleaning behind the teeth and the abutments. It’s also a good idea to use an oral irrigation device for extra deep cleaning. Brush removable dental implants with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Floss around abutments while the dental appliance is out of the mouth.

3. Visit Dentist Twice a Year

Good oral hygiene includes regular dental visits twice per year. This is especially true for people with dental implants. Every 6 months your implants need thorough cleaning and plaque removal. Your dental implants also need checking for proper fit and placement and repair if necessary. You dental hygienist is the only one who can clean your implants as thoroughly as needed, so these regular trips to the dentist are very important. Your dentist will also check the condition of your gums, jaw and anchors.

4. Mouth Wash Musts

Many dentists prescribe Chlorhexidine Gluconate Mouthwash after dental implants. This special mouthwash is a germicidal mouthwash that reduces bacteria in the mouth. This powerful mouthwash helps reduce the risk of post operative infection for patients with implants. Most dentists prescribe it for use one month after implants. The mouthwash has an unpleasant taste, but don’t rinse it away or you may wash away the germ fighting strength. Your dentist will let you know if Chlorhexidine Gluconate Mouthwash is necessary for your particular situation.

5. White and Bright

Just like normal teeth, dental implants can stain over time. So it’s important not only to brush and floss twice each day, but to cut down on things that stain the teeth. Smoking is never a good idea, and it’s especially bad for implants. Coffee and tea are both teeth staining culprits, so be sure to brush and rinse well after drinking either. Talk to you dentist about whether teeth whitening products and procedures are safe for your dental implants.

Eat any foods but with caution

Dental implants are very strong and you can eat everyday foods as long as you do not do anything extreme such as open packages with your teeth or cracking bones. You have spent a lot of money on your dental implants so take care of them.

Do not drink very hot liquids

Dental implants are made of metal and metal retains heat more readily that soft human tissue. If you drink very hot liquids the implant tooth may heat up from the liquid and stay hot enough and long enough to burn a thin layer of cells around the implant .With repeated small damages this may cause the loss of the implant.  The rule is if you cannot touch  a hot coffee –don’t drink it!!

Do not floss around the implant

First you need to understand that dental implants are not teeth. Gums attach to teeth with a very strong ligament that also has nerves .This is called the periodontal Ligament. So when you floss teeth it is good to push the floss into the pocket. The ligament will stop you from damaging the area and the nerves will create pain to stop you from damage

Keep Regular Dental Maintenance Appointments

It is critical to check the implants at least 1 per year by someone that knows dental implants in addition to your 6 month or 4 month cleaning schedule. At this appointment the bone levels will be evaluated as well as many other things such as soft tissue heal and occlusion. Like many things in dentistry and medicine if the problem is found early it can usually be corrected without more serious consequences that result in not addressing the problem early.

Arlington Family Dentist

James T. La D.D.S

Address: 3100 Matlock Rd
Suite #103
Arlington, TX 76015

Phone: (817) 468-3590