Dental implants are a fantastic approach to enhancing your smile and function. Dental implants have grown in popularity as an alternative for patients seeking restorations due to their affordability, simplicity of use, and long-term success rates. There are over 3 million dental implant users in the United States, with 500,000 replacement procedures done each year.
It’s impossible, however, to expect your new implants to do the job alone. It would be beneficial to ensure you adequately cared for your implants. Check out our dental implant care guide to see how it’s done.
How to clean your implant
Dental implants, unlike teeth, are not susceptible to cavities or decay. The gum around them is more sensitive and prone to inflammation/infection than teeth. Perio-implant disease/infection must be avoided for implant health and performance.
Implant Hygiene tips:
For single/multiple implants
- Brush your teeth twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Regular dental cleaning
- Use a low-abrasive toothpaste
- Brush around and under the implant crown
- Floss daily with unwaxed tape or implant-specific floss
- Use a recommended oral irrigator at a slow speed.
- Oral rinse without alcohol twice daily
For Implant Over Dentures
- Remove denture daily and soak in the denture cleaner for the recommended time
- Gently brush the underside of the denture with a denture brush
- Inspect attachment caps or clips and alert your dentist if they are worn or missing
- Clean around implant attachments/locators using a small brush or special tools provided to you by your prosthodontist
- Rinse overdenture thoroughly with water before placing it into your mouth
- Visit your prosthodontist every 3 -6 months
For implant fixed dentures or bridges
- Rinse daily with a non-alcoholic mouth rinse
- Brush daily with a soft brush and low abrasive toothpaste
- Use small brushes or a water pick/dental flosser at low speed for cleaning under the bridge/denture
- Visit your prosthodontist every six months for professional cleaning
Know What to Avoid
After you’ve gotten your dental implant prostheses put in, there are a few things you’ll need to avoid. This includes:
Gum disease and inflammation can be caused by smoking.
Heavy bit or hard foods may apply too much pressure on the implant.
Your implants may be harmed or destroyed by non-approved cleaning solutions, baking soda, bleach cleansers, or toothbrushes with a stiff bristle.
Furthermore, if you grind your teeth, go to a dentist as soon as possible. Excess pressure on your implants may result from this. If this is possible, you should use a night guard to preserve your teeth.
Are You Ready to Care for Your Implants?
Now that you’ve gone through this dental implant care tutorial, it’s time to put everything you’ve learned into action.
If you have any other questions, call us today, or contact us for a free consultation.
