Maintaining Oral Hygiene When Using Dental Implants

Caring for your dental implants is just as important as you would care for your natural teeth. Everyday care and maintenance are essential for the longevity of your dental implants. 

Here are some tips and tricks for the maintenance of proper oral hygiene while having dental implants:

• Brushing Dental Implants

Brushing your dental implants is just like brushing your natural teeth. Set aside just two minutes from your busy schedule to brush your dental implants. A manual brush would be enough, but the use of electronic brushes is more effective when it comes to stain prevention and plaque removal. 

Use any non-abrasive kinds of toothpaste, especially if acrylics are involved in your restoration. Avoid gritty pastes or baking soda as it can cause micro-scratching on the surface of your dental work. 

Pay attention while cleaning around the gum tissues of your restoration, as plaque tends to be heaviest near the gums. Brushing also promotes blood flow and keeps your teeth healthy. 

• Flossing Dental Implants

Cleaning your implants keeps the gums around the dental implant clean and healthy. This is done effectively with the help of floss. The floss can reach places where the toothbrush cannot.

The goal is to rub the strand up and down by holding it in a “C” shape. If you’re among the people who do not like to floss or find trouble in flossing, you can try the water flosser. The water flossers use heavy streams of water to reach the areas where the brush cannot reach. 

• Prevent Gum Disease Around Implants

The gum disease that occurs with implants is referred to as peri-implantitis. It is the number one cause of implant failure as it affects the tissues surrounding the implants. 

Peri-implantitis is preventable by daily care and hygiene. If not maintained properly, the gums and bones around the implant eventually won’t be able to support the implant. 

• Cleaning Multi-Tooth Implant Restorations

There is an extra step you have to take if you have a multi-tooth implant restoration; cleaning underneath your appliance. 

Consult your dentist every 6 months for a professional cleaning to keep your implants clean and healthy. It requires special equipment to clean dental implants. 

Visit Primary Dental Clinic at 4519 N Garfield St., Suite 16A, Midland, TX 79705 if you plan on getting your teeth restored using dental implants. Call us at (432) 570-7080 for any questions you might have on dental implants. Schedule an appointment now.