Dental implants can be a costly investment that should be protected.
In order to avoid complications that can arise if your implants fail, the first thing that your implants dentist will emphasize is that good oral hygiene is necessary in order to care for your dental implants, and careless hygiene can lead to implant failing.
An extra effort may be needed to ensure that plaque is removed daily.
It also means a regimen of regular flossing and proper brushing is needed to clean interdental spaces between the dental implants.
If your implants are new, you may experience some sensation that prevents you from brushing the area.
However you can still prevent the accumulation of plaque, by using an antibacterial mouth rinse and/or gels that may be recommended by your implants dentist.
A few days after the implants have been inserted; you can use a very soft toothbrush to thoroughly and gently clean the area around the implant.
The best cleaning method will depend on the stage of your dental treatment, and your dentist will be able to offer the best advice.
The implants dentist may recommend the use of an interdental brush, which differs from a regular toothbrush, as it is designed specifically to clean spaces between the teeth.
You can use antibacterial toothpastes to help prevent plaque formation after your teeth have been brushed.
When the bacteria multiply on the implant, the high levels may lead to mucositis or inflammation of the gums.
If the condition remains untreated, there may be deterioration of the bone tissue around the implant, which can lead to a condition known as peri-implantitis.
Some research has shown that antibacterial toothpaste has a positive effect on the success of implants.
The severity of the condition can make it even more difficult for the implants dentist to save or even restore your implants.
A few preventative procedures can help to make care of your implants much easy and much less worrisome.
Mucositis and peri-implantitis may develop without symptoms, and the conditions are usually painless in the initial stages until bone loss begins to occur, so it is extremely important to visit your dentist regularly.
One important procedure that should be performed regularly is flossing to remove the plaque between the teeth and around the implant.
Flossing should be done daily, and at any time in the treatment as it keeps gums healthy and reduces bacteria growth.
Quitting smoking may be one of the best things you can do for your dental implants, as it reduces all of the risks of any related complications.
In addition to proper oral hygiene, your implants will require some maintenance, and regular visits to your dentist are critical.
The check-up should be done at least every 6 months.
The dentist will examine your gums and teeth, and take a closer look and clean the areas that may be difficult for you to reach at home.
The procedure to clean implants may be a bit more complex than that of cleaning teeth, and requires the use of special instruments and may take a bit longer.