10 Best Ways to Take Care of A Dental Implant

Dental implants are an effective approach for permanently replacing missing teeth. They are designed to appear, feel, and function like your natural teeth. To make sure their longevity and functionality, proper care is crucial. This article outlines the 10 best ways on how to care for dental implants, ensuring your dental implants remain in excellent condition.

What is the Best Way to Care for Dental Implants?

As dental implants in Arizona enhance oral functionality, like natural teeth, they need proper care to preserve their durability and performance. Here are some effective approaches and solutions for taking care of dental implants:

Regular Cleaning

Gently brush twice a day around and under the implant crow. It is important to brush all sides of the implant and the crown to remove plaque and food particles. The best toothpaste to use on dental implants would be the low-abrasives designed for sensitive teeth or implants to avoid scratching the implant surfaces.

Floss Daily

Floss daily at least once to remove plaque and food debris that the toothbrush cannot reach. Use floss specifically designed for use with dental implants, as it is gentler on the implant and surrounding tissues. Carefully thread the floss around the implant and under the gumline after dental implant surgery and gently move it back and forth to ensure thorough cleaning.

Rinse with Mouthwash

Choose an alcohol-free, antibacterial rinse to prevent drying out the mouth, which can potentially increase the risk of bacterial growth. Using the best mouthwash for dental implants, such as an antimicrobial mouth rinse, can help reduce bacteria around the implant and decrease the risk of infection.

Stay Hydrated

Staying drinking lots of water daily helps wash away food debris and bacteria and helps to maintain oral moisture. Saliva is essential to oral health, as it protects against tooth decay and infections. Drink water daily, and choose water over sugary drinks or sodas.

Regular Dental Checkups

See your dentist every six months to get a professional cleaning and to check the integrity of your implants. A professional cleaning can help you clean more thoroughly around the implants and look out for any signs of implant issues or gum disease. Also, during these visits, get advice tailored to your specific situation, which may evolve as the implant ages or your oral health changes.

Proper Diet

Maintain a healthy diet that supports oral health, including plenty of vitamins C and D and calcium. Eating regular meals helps ensure a balanced intake of nutrients; frequently consuming sugary snacks can increase the risk of cavities.

Wear a Mouthguard

Individuals with dental implants can significantly reduce the risk of damaging their implants and other oral structures by wearing mouthguards. Therefore, they can enhance and maintain their overall oral health and the integrity of their dental restoration. Also, consider wearing a mouthguard in case you participate in sports to protect your implants from any potential physical damage.

Monitor and Address Issues Promptly

Pay attention to the health of your gums. Redness, swelling, or bleeding could indicate gum disease, which could affect the stability of your implant. Take immediate care of problems, and if you notice any looseness, discomfort, or unusual symptoms around the implant, contact your dentist immediately.

Educate Yourself

By continually educating yourself about dental implants, you ensure that you are well-equipped to maintain your oral health and make the best decisions before undergoing the procedure and to ensure optimal care afterward. Also, as dental technology advances daily, staying updated with the latest research, techniques, and materials used in dental implants can help you maintain your implants effectively for any dental work.

Lifestyle Considerations

Lifestyle choices have a role in the success and longevity of dental implants. Making thoughtful choices about daily habits and behaviors can greatly influence the health of your dental implants. Smoking can interfere with your oral healing process and negatively affect the dental implant health. Excessive alcohol intake can also affect your oral healing process. It’s advisable to limit alcohol intake, especially in the healing phase post-implant surgery. Having a balanced diet also helps to support overall oral health, which can benefit the longevity of your implants.

How to Make Dental Implants Last Longer?

To extend the life of your dental implants, avoid habits that can hurt and damage them, such as using them as tools to open things, biting on hard objects, or smoking. Smoking, in turn, can impair healing and negatively affect the longevity of your implant.

Maintain Implant Hygiene

Maintaining implant hygiene is essential for ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of dental implants. Proper hygiene helps prevent infections and ensures the surrounding gum and bone remain healthy. This involves regular and thorough cleaning routines, and works well on how to care for full mouth dental implants. Furthermore, incorporating the use of an interdental brush or a water flosser can facilitate the cleaning of difficult-to-reach areas around the implant.

What are the Do’s and Don’ts of an Implant?

Taking proper care of your dental implant after the procedure is crucial for ensuring its longevity and functionality. Here’s a guide to the do’s and don’ts of dental implant aftercare:

What to Do to Care for Dental Implants:

Incorporate Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables have lots of vitamins and minerals and are low in calories.  Add colorful fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants and other substances that help protect against oral diseases.

Choose Calcium-Rich Foods

Calcium helps strengthen the jawbone, which supports dental implants and plays a key role in maintaining strong teeth. Except for YouTube and cheese, seek out plant-based sources of calcium like almonds, leafy green vegetables, and fortified products.

Get Adequate Vitamin D

Vitamin D is crucial since it helps the body absorb calcium effectively. Regular sunlight exposure is a natural way to get vitamin D. Foods like fatty fish, fortified dairy products, and egg yolks also help boost your vitamin D levels.

Add Foods High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory, are found in fish like salmon and mackerel. Flaxseeds and walnuts can also help protect against gum disease, an important consideration for the health surrounding dental implants.

Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks

Sugar speeds up tooth decay and gum disease by feeding harmful bacteria in your mouth.

Avoid sugary snacks and beverages, and read labels to watch for hidden sugars in processed foods.

What Not to Do to Care for Dental Implants:

Quit Smoking

Smoking can negatively affect their healing process and longevity of dental implants, and it can impede the healing process.

Avoid Hard Foods

Stay away from hard hard items like ice or hard candy. And sticky foods that can damage and hurt the implant or the crown.

Don’t Probe the Area

Avoid touching or probing the area with your tongue or your fingers, as this can introduce bacteria or cause irritation.

Schedule your Appointment at Atrium Dental in Phoenix, Arizona

Here at Atrium Dental, experience care for your smile. Your path to a brighter smile starts here. Don’t hesitate to take care of your dental health. Call us now or visit our website to book your visit. Learn why we are the trusted choice for families in our community. Our experienced staff ensures a comfortable and professional experience.

Conclusion

Taking proper care of dental implants is not that complicated after all. You can enhance your dental implant’s success rate and also take care of your overall well-being. Including these practices into your daily oral hygiene routine can ensure the longevity and success of your dental implants. Remember, taking care of your implants is as important as your natural teeth.

FAQ

What toothpaste is best for dental implants?

A toothpaste labeled low-abrasive and designed for sensitive teeth is best for dental implants to avoid scratching the surface.

What’s the best mouthwash to use for implants?

An alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash is ideal for dental implants as it helps control bacteria without causing dryness or irritation.

Are electric toothbrushes good for implants?

Yes, electric toothbrushes are excellent for implants. Use one with a soft brush head and a sensitive mode to ensure gentle and effective cleaning.