How To Maintain Your Dental Implants
Dental implants can not only improve your appearance, but they also work to protect your gums, bone, and healthy teeth. They can prevent shifting teeth, bite collapse, and other dental problems that many people face. If you have dental implants, you want to take proper care of them to keep them looking good and to prevent complications. While caring for implants can be similar to caring for natural teeth, you may need to take additional care when it comes to your implants.
Daily care
Regular brushing and flossing are critical when maintaining dental implants. You should use floss and a well-rated toothbrush to remove plaque and clean your implants at least twice a day. It is also preferable to clean your teeth after each meal. When you clean, pay attention to all sides of your implant. There are certain types of oral hygiene products that can be particularly useful when cleaning implants, including:
● A soft electric or manual toothbrush
● Low-abrasive toothpaste with tartar control
● Dental floss
● Antimicrobial mouthwash or rinse
● Disclosing tablets to identify plaque accumulation
● Inter-dental brushes to remove plaque
Even with all the best equipment and products, however, the best tool for maintaining your implants is your own diligence and consistency.
Visiting Your Dentist
Scheduling regular appointments with a trusted dentist is also crucial for proper implant maintenance. You should talk to your dentist about the frequency of visits in your specific situation, though most people should go every three to six months. During your professional exam, not only will your dentist clean your natural teeth and implants, but they will also look for potential problems. People with implants should have regular x-rays, and dentists should look for looseness and exam the gums, bite, and all components of the implant. Skipping a dentist appointment can result in worsening problems that your dentist could have identified.
What Happens with Improper Implant Maintenance?
If you fail to take the necessary daily care of your dental implant, problems can quickly develop. You may notice that your gums are bleeding, as this is usually the first sign of mucositis. If you seek help right away, your dentist may be able to successfully treat and reverse this condition. However, left untreated, it can result in bone loss called peri-implantitis, which is not reversible. Advanced bone loss may require you to have the implant removed altogether. It is always better to care for your implant and call your dentist right away if you have any concerns.
Find Out More Information about Austin Dental Implants, Today!
Even if you did not receive your implants at Toothbar, our team can help you maintain the implant, address any concerns you have, and help you keep your implant for life. Toothbar takes a modern approach to dentistry and believes that everyone should feel confident in their smile.
You can call (512) 949-8202, drop by our location, or even use our online contact form to make an appointment and learn more about how we can help you smile brighter.