Dental implants are an excellent method to enhance your smile and function. Dental implants have become a popular alternative for patients needing restorations due to their affordability, ease of placement, and long-term success rates. There are over 3 million dental implant recipients in the United States today, with 500,000 replacement procedures performed each year.

You can’t, however, expect your new implants to do the job alone. It would help if you made sure you care for your implants correctly. Look at our dental implant care guide to see how it’s done.

How to clean your implant

Dental implants, unlike teeth, cannot get cavities or decay. The gum around them is highly sensitive and vulnerable to inflammation/infection, unlike teeth. Preventing perio-implant disease/infection is critical for implant health and functionality.

Implant Hygiene tips:

• For single/multiple implants
• Clean twice a day with a soft-bristle 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.

Additionally, if you grind your teeth, seek medical attention from a dentist immediately. This may cause excess pressure on your implants. If this is possible, you should use a night guard to preserve your teeth and implants under functional forces.

Are You Ready to Care for Your Implants?

Now that you’ve gone through this dental implant care guide, it’s time to put everything you’ve learned into practice.

If you have any other questions, call us today, or contact us for a free consultation.