How to look after your dental implants

Dental implants are simple to take care of, with regular brushing and flossing they can last a lifetime.
Teeth implants are placed in three stages: the initial placement of the implant screw, the revealing of the implant and placement of an abutment, and finally the attachment of the crowns. After the first procedure, when the implant itself is placed, it is recommended not to partake in anything physically exerting for the initial few days. Abstaining from alcohol and smoking are also recommended as they both slow down the healing process. As the area could be relatively sore, it is advised that you continue to brush the remainder of your mouth as normal but refrain from cleaning the treated area as not to disturb the stitches or the healing process.

Uncovering the dental implants and placing the abutment is a not a particularly invasive procedure. Though it is still highly recommended to avoid alcohol and smoking for a few days either side of the appointment, you will be able to clean the new abutments right away with care. Soften a soft-bristled toothbrush in water and use it to gently clean the abutments, taking care not to disturb the surrounding gum.

Once the dental implant crowns have been placed it is important to take good care of them; well-maintained dental implants can last ten years or more!

Clean your implants day and night with a soft-bristled toothbrush that has been softened in running water. Use circular brushing movements, angling the head of the toothbrush slightly towards the gum so that the margins of the implants are cleaned too. Be sure not to scrub at the implants, or the gum around them. Use the toothbrush to clean the inside and outside of the implant, along with removing plaque and debris from the top.
A toothbrush is essential for keeping good oral hygiene and helping to look after your implants
• Use an anti-plaque toothpaste on your implants. It is also beneficial to use a toothpaste containing fluoride: even though the fluoride is not able to incorporate itself into the implant structure like it does with normal teeth, there is evidence to show that fluoride inhibits the action of periodontitis-causing bacteria, and so using it can help protect the gums around your implant. You will most likely want to use the same toothpaste to clean your implants that you use on the rest of your mouth, so sticking with a fluoridated toothpaste for your implants as well as your teeth makes for ease of cleaning.
• Find an interdental technique that works for you. Some people find flossing a bit fiddly: if this is the case, experiment with tepe brushes, water flossing, or dental picks. Be sure to clean in-between your dental implants at least once a day.
• Specialised implant brushes can be purchased in some stores: these are brushes with only a few tufts, angled to make cleaning the sides of implants easier.
• Use an anti-plaque mouthwash twice a day to help keep the gums around your implants free from bacteria.
• It is never recommended to eat very hard foods on with dental implants. If you are eating something particularly hard, try and chew it on the side of your mouth away from the implants, if at all possible.

Though dental implants are free from the threat of decay, their foundations (bone and soft tissue) are still prone to inflammation caused by bacteria. Dental implants can suffer from peri-implantitis, a condition similar to gum disease: it is characterised by the irreversible loss of foundation tissue, resulting in wobbly implants. It is a rare condition and with adequate oral hygiene it can be mostly avoided. If you are concerned about peri-implantitis, or think you are more prone to it due to previous or present gum disease, speak to your dentist or hygienist.

Posted in: Dental Implants, Replace Missing Teeth

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  1. Dentist In New Jersey August 5, 2013

    Soft foods are always recommend for the patients who had dental implants to solve missing teeth problems. Besides taking soft foods patients are advised to avoid any types of dairy products for at least five days after their dental implant surgery which help them to keep their digestive system fine.

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