How To Keep Your Dental Implants In Top Shape
One of the reasons you decided to go with dental implants is the durable nature of this alternative to natural teeth. In fact, implants are almost as strong as the real thing.
If you want to get the most from those new implants, it pays to take proper care of them. Here are four strategies that will help keep those new additions in top shape for many years to come.
How To Take Care Of Your Dental Implants
Here are 4 simple ways to make sure your dental implants as new:
1. Keep Brushing
Some people think that dental implants mean the end of the usual dental hygiene routine. That is not the case. You will still need to brush after meals and use mouthwash.
While it’s true that the implants and caps are not subject to decay, the residue can collect on the surface of those caps just as it once did on your natural teeth.
Brushing and rinsing with mouthwash is still the best way to get rid of the residue.
Remember that brushing also helps remove buildup on the gums. That’s important because healthy gum tissue keeps the implants firmly in place.
You’ll also have a lower risk of any type of gum infection by brushing two or three times a day.
2. Choose Your Products Wisely
Remember how your dentist used to provide tips on what your toothpaste and mouthwash should contain? The same still holds true when you select products for the care of those dental implants.
A dental professional will provide guidelines about what to look for in products that clean the implants and keep the potential for harming them to a minimum.
Keep those guidelines in mind when you restock your supply of toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash.
3. Be Mindful Of What You Eat
There is no doubt that dental implants are sturdy. They tend to hold up well in situations that would cause a lot of damage to denture plates. Even so, there is no reason to create any more stress on the implants than necessary.
Many of the suggestions for eating habits that applied when you had real teeth are still helpful. Avoid biting down on something that is hard enough to crack a cap. Chewing ice can create additional wear on your implants.
If you should happen to crack a cap, the best move is to call a dentist immediately and arrange for a new one. That will minimize the potential for any damage to the underlying implant.
4. Have Regular Checkups And Cleanings
You still need at least one dental checkup and one cleaning per year. While brushing and using mouthwash remove most of the residue, having a professional clean the caps and the space in between will take care of the rest.
Along with enjoying that fresh sensation that comes with having the cleaning, you also reduce the possibility of gum infection.
If you would like more tips on how to take care of your dental implants, call your dentist today. By following the simple advice given, those implants could last for the rest of your life.
7 Things About Dental Implants You Might Not Know
Here’s a great infographic with 7 facts about dental implants that might surprise you. I must admit, most of them were unknown to me 🙂
