11 Tips for Taking Care of Your Dental Implants
Have you recently had dental implants installed? Well, today’s implants are strong, secure, and long-lasting. But like any other piece of dental equipment, they need tender loving care and dental hygiene to stay effective and comfortable for you. Regular care will help keep your dental implants performing well for as long as possible. It will also increase the lifespan of the implants you already have. Here are eleven tips for taking care of your dental implants.
- Brush & Floss Regularly
A daily brushing regimen will help keep your gums healthy and your teeth clean. Make sure you use a soft toothbrush on the sensitive gum tissue. Plaque-fighting mouthwash will increase the effectiveness of your brushing efforts.
The most important thing you can do for your dental implants is to keep plaque away from the implant surface. It will help get debris out from between your teeth and under the gum line, where it can cause inflammation and irritation.
- Store Them Properly
Your dental implants are a big part of your overall dental look and function. You should store them in a way that allows them to breathe. Do not place them in a humidifier or other devices that can cause moisture build-up.
What would happen? The walls of your implant would harden, just like a wine bottle, and then you would have a hard time getting it out. The same is true when placing something like an air conditioner near an implant.
- Use Mouthwash and Rinse out Your Mouth after Eating
Using mouthwash after brushing and flossing will help make sure plaque doesn’t have an opportunity to build up on your teeth again. Some mouthwashes can also help kill bacteria that disrupt healing after initial treatment or a procedure like bonding or gum disease treatment.
Be sure to rinse out your mouth thoroughly with plain water after rinsing, so you don’t get any of the harmful ingredients in your dental treatment areas.
- Use a Waterpik to Clean Your Teeth
A waterpik can be a great alternative to flossing your teeth. It uses a stream of water to remove plaque, food particles and bacteria from between and around your teeth. You can also use a dental water jet in combination with the waterpik to make sure you get everything out of hard-to-reach areas of your mouth where dental floss may miss.
- Rinse with Baking Soda and Gargle with Lemon Juice
Mixing baking soda with salt in equal parts creates an abrasive powder that will help clean the inside surface of your teeth and gums and help whiten them. A recent study done showed that after rinsing with this mixture, there was a 22% decrease in gingivitis levels when compared with brushing alone. Gargling with lemon juice can also help kill bacteria in your mouth.
- Brush after Every Meal
Brushing your teeth after each meal helps reduce the amount of acid in your mouth and this can reduce tooth decay and the need for receding gum treatment. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day will help keep your teeth healthy. However, most dentists suggest brushing at least three times a day to get the best results. To save time in the morning, brush before bed so you are ready for the next day,
- Get Regular Check-ups
Regular check-ups with a dentist are crucial for keeping your teeth healthy. At each visit, your dentist will examine every tooth and every area of your mouth and gums. They will also look at your overall oral health and show you how to better care for your teeth. With regular check-ups and good habits at home, you can help keep those “gummy” smiles bright and white.
- Wear a Mouth Guard
Mouthguards are worn by athletes like football players and hockey players who play contact sports. They usually reduce injuries from hitting their teeth. Like with other protective gear for your body, wearing a mouthguard is an essential part of good oral health.
With regular use, your teeth will gain protection and help keep new fillings in place longer to prevent future problems like tooth decay and gum disease. If you hit hard enough in sports or activities, you may want to consider wearing a mouthguard if you are a contact sports athlete.
- Avoid Sticky and Hard Foods
Avoid sticky foods like apples and raisins. More specifically, avoid consuming foods high in sugar, such as candies. If you cannot resist the sweet tooth, try to use dental floss instead of your teeth to remove fruit chunks between meals.
Generally, be a healthy eater by limiting the amount of meat you eat each day especially if you want to keep your implants for a longer period. Overeating meat can lead to gum disease and bone loss as well as damaging your teeth and jawbone
- Use a Low-Abrasive Toothpaste
Dental implants are made of a highly durable and biocompatible titanium material. To protect them, you should be careful not to use toothpaste that has abrasive particles in it. You can also use a toothbrush with the softest bristles possible to prevent any unnecessary damage to your implants since the bristles can damage your natural teeth and gums if they are too rough.
- Avoid Teeth Damaging Habits
You should minimise damaging habits such as smoking, using drugs, and drinking alcohol. These habits can damage your teeth and increase the risk of losing your implants. You should also talk to your dentist about how often you should floss and brush your teeth. Your dentist may recommend a certain daily routine to help you avoid dental implant loss. Depending on the strength, others may recommend that you brush sparingly. Just search for, ‘dentist near me’ and pick your most convenient option.
Conclusion
Having implants is an excellent way to achieve a beautiful, healthy smile. But caring for implants can be challenging. Sometimes, these implants can become damaged through wear and tear, inadequate care, or other factors. If you have implants, it’s important to take care of them so they can durably serve you.
