Dental implants are a permanent solution for a natural look and feel and a beautiful, vibrant smile if you have lost your teeth. But, once you have benefitted from the service of your dental implant specialist Sunnyvale, CA, it is upon you to ensure you subject your oral implants to thorough care. Research shows that specialist-fitted dental implants have a success rate of more than 95% in the long term with routine cleaning and maintenance.
The good news is that dental implants are not that demanding to clean and maintain compared to false tooth replacement solutions such as dentures. Consequently, below are a few care and maintenance tips you should observe.
Brush your teeth and implants twice a day
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or an electric brush since they are gentle on the implants while still highly promoting the removal of tartar and plaque, food particles, and bacteria.
Brushing your teeth and implants when you wake up allows the removal of bacteria and plaque that accumulate as you sleep. On the other hand, brushing before you sleep removes any food debris deposited in your mouth during the day.
Hold your brush at an angle of 45 degrees while cleaning your dental implants. Doing that promotes better cleaning of the gum line.
Floss daily
Dentists recommend flossing at least once daily, vital for effortlessly reaching the spaces under and around your dental implants. A toothbrush may not do a better job of getting into those areas.
Flossing ejects the food particles stuck between your dental implants and teeth and thus reduces the microorganisms and the plaque inside your mouth.
Suppose you use water flossers, which effectively remove sizeable food particles, remember, they may have difficulty eliminating the dental plaque, a biofilm on the surface of your teeth and implants. Thus, you need to complement water flossers with traditional flossing.
Low abrasive paste
In the market, there are types of paste that can be rough and gradually destroy your dental implants. Toothpaste with ingredients like Sodium bicarbonate can damage your new dental implants. Also, avoid pastes meant for teeth whitening.
Consult your dentist about the correct toothpaste for sensitive teeth or oral implants.
Quit smoking and use of tobacco products
Studies link the negative outcome of most therapeutic procedures performed inside the oral cavity to smoking and the use of tobacco products. The rate of dental implant failure is significantly higher if you are a smoker.
Smoking and tobacco use also is notorious for triggering swelling around dental implants. Smoking weakens your gums, which in turn fails your implants.
Go for routine dental checkups
The sooner you realize that dental implants will never wholly replace your teeth, the better. Coming to such a realization means recognizing that you still need to visit your dentist’s office for regular checkups.
Your dentist needs to check and monitor the health of your implants and even assist in removing bacteria and food particles you may leave inside your mouth.
Contact Perio & Implant Center today if you need implants for your missing teeth and professional implant care.
