How to Take Care of Your Dental Implants 

If you have invested in dental implants in Overland Park, KS or in just about any city in the US, you know how much they can change your life for the better. Dental implants, for many of us, are an essential part of your long-term dental health. It’s wise to take good care of them, and fortunately, that’s not difficult if you follow these tips.

Buy a Soft Brush Made From Nylon

After you choose high-quality dental implants, you may require a new toothbrush.

You shouldn’t use a hard-bristled toothbrush because it can scratch the implant surface. Also, you should never apply any metal instrument when you clean your teeth after your implants are in place.

The ideal tool is a nylon toothbrush, whose bristles are gentle and more pliable for implants. Another option is to purchase a Proxabrush to clean those nooks and crannies around your implants. 

Use an Antimicrobial Mouthwash

One of the most useful tools to make your implants last and look great is an antimicrobial mouthwash that eliminates damaging bacteria in your mouth. 

Just swish your mouth twice per day with mouthwash when you brush your teeth, and you will ensure your implants last indefinitely.

Floss Daily

It may be hard to believe, but only 16% of adults in the US floss every day. That means more than 80% of us don’t floss often, and that’s a big problem. 

It’s even more significant if you have a dental implant because flossing daily is a must for its care. Dental plaque may collect around the implant, and lead to more dental problems. 

Plenty of dental flosses are available that are good for dental implants, so there’s no reason not to floss daily.

Consider an Oral Irrigation System

Research suggests that using oral irrigation helps to reduce the accumulation of plaque around dental implants and natural teeth. This device will make a big difference but should only be used in addition to dental floss, not replace it.

Don’t Eat Hard or Sticky Foods

Consuming hard or sticky foods can damage your regular teeth and dental implants. These edibles also can damage the teeth that meet your implants.

Implants most often fail due to trauma caused by too much pressure and biting force on the side of them. Some foods you should not consume after you’ve had dental implants are: 

• Dried fruit
• Carrots
• Hard candies
• Steak
• French bread or others with a hard crust
• Apples
• Potato chips
• Ice
• Caramel

Set Up Regular Cleanings 

Some people believe that implants don’t require regular professional cleaning the same as natural teeth. This is not true!

You should still see your dentist twice a year for a complete cleaning of your natural and implanted teeth. During the appointment, your dentist will review the health of your natural teeth.

The dentist will inspect the function and stability of your implants. If a problem may be developing, early detection and treatment by an oral healthcare professional can prevent implant failure. 

Pay Attention When You Brush Your Implants

Much of the plaque that grows on our teeth starts at the gum line. So you should brush your dental implant carefully to ensure plaque doesn’t build up.

Brushing effectively doesn’t mean you have to brush hard, though. Brushing too vigorously or with too much pressure may damage either your natural teeth or implants. 

You should brush gently but ensure your brush makes contact with every part of each tooth. It’s common to miss the rear side of teeth and the base of teeth where they meet the gums. 

Use the Correct Toothpaste

Most commercially available toothpaste has fluoride, which does not harm dental implants. 

You should avoid toothpaste that contains a high amount of abrasives, such as stain removers, baking soda, or any paste made for smokers. An abrasive toothpaste will cause additional wear on certain surfaces and could damage the glaze on your acrylic implant. 

If you follow these guidelines, your new dental implants could last as long as your natural teeth.