Learn to Care For Your Dental Implants in These Helpful Ways

Dental implants enable people to replace a missing tooth and restore their smile. They are made to look and feel like real teeth, so they can be used to chew and smile with confidence. Implants are a great option for individuals who have lost a tooth due to decay, trauma, or gum disease.

It is important to care for them to keep them looking good and functioning properly. Poor dental hygiene can cause various problems, including inflammation, pain, discomfort, and bone loss. If not taken care of, these issues can lead to peri-implantitis. Here are some ways how:

It is best to avoid using toothbrushes with hard bristles as they can cause damage to your teeth and implants. Hard bristles can scratch the surface of the implants, leading to permanent damage. 

Instead of using a hard-bristled brush, try to find a brush with softer and more flexible bristles. These bristles are gentler and won't damage your implants. Soft-bristled toothbrushes are much better for your dental health since they won’t erode the surface of your enamel.

Avoid using regular toothpaste and opt for a special brand of low-abrasive toothpaste. The gentler formula of this type of toothpaste is designed to remove plaque and stains without causing excessive abrasion, which can damage your implants over time. With regular brushing, this type of toothpaste can help keep your implants looking their best.

If you have dental implants, it is essential to floss regularly. Plaque can accumulate around the implants, leading to poor oral health if not taken care of. Flossing will help keep your implants clean and your mouth healthy.

Use a type of floss specifically designed for them when you floss daily. This means you should use floss that is not waxed or an implant-specific variant.

While implants replace a natural tooth, you shouldn’t ignore proper oral hygiene! Aside from a toothbrush with soft bristles, toothpaste specifically designed for sensitivity, and non-alcoholic mouthwash, use them at least once a day! Avoid using harsh cleansers such as baking soda, bleach, or chlorine, as these could damage the implants. Regularly flossing with a product made for implants is also a must.

Avoiding hard and sticky foods can help keep your implants in good condition. Soft foods such as cooked vegetables, fruit, and fish can help protect your implants from getting damaged or accumulating plaque.

If you have implants, it's also best to avoid hard and crunchy foods like ice, hard candies, hardshell tacos, potato chips, carrots, apples, crusty bread, caramel, dried fruits, and steak.

Additionally, heat can affect your implants, whether from hot water or hot food products like soups. This can cause implants to become misshapen.

Maintain your implants as natural teeth since they can get damaged like them. Stick to your oral hygiene regimen; brush, gargle, and floss daily while watching the foods you eat and visiting your dentist regularly to prevent any other problems.

Best Value Dentures and Implants provides the best denture and implant services at prices everyone can afford. We offer payment plans and financing options to help make dental implants fit into any budget. Inquire today by calling 813-358-1225!