Caring for Your Dental Implants: What You Need to Know  

The key to prolonging the beauty and function of dental implants is properly cleaning and caring for them. Although dental implants do not develop cavities, individuals who neglect to care for them as directed increase their risk of developing the inflammatory condition peri-implantitis. If peri-implantitis develops, the likelihood that an implant will fail increases.

Caring for Dental Implants 

It is vital that people with dental implants follow a good oral hygiene routine.

A good routine includes:

• Using a water flosser to remove debris from around the implants and beneath the prosthesis.
• Brushing twice a day.
• Flossing around their implants and beneath the prosthesis at least once a day.
• Using a mouth rinse that their Sioux Falls, South Dakota, dental implant surgeon recommends.

Oral Hygiene Tips for Individuals With Dental Implants

Use a Soft Nylon Toothbrush

Nylon toothbrushes have pliable bristles that gently clean the prosthesis and any natural teeth that remain.

Floss Using Bridge and Crown Floss

Bridge and crown floss has two ends that consist of nylon and a fuzzy center.

Each nylon end is stiff, which makes the floss easy to thread between a bridge or a full-arch prosthesis and the gum.

The fuzzy center gently cleans the surface of the dental implant, as well as the part of the prosthesis touching the gum line.

Brush first, and then floss, here is why:

By brushing before flossing, the floss can help distribute the toothpaste residue that remains in the mouth to inhibit the growth of unwanted bacteria.

The Importance of Flossing

Neglecting to floss can be detrimental to the overall health of the mouth because the accumulation of plaque and tartar around the dental implant typically leads to additional oral health issues (e.g., peri-implantitis).

Continue With Bi-annual Cleanings and Checkups

Bi-annual cleanings and checkups are always an important aspect of good oral hygiene. During this visit, the dentist can determine if there are any signs of gum disease or peri-implantitis present. Addressing any issues the dentist finds right away reduces the likelihood of another dental problem arising.

If you are in, or around, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and considering a dental implant, contact Full Mouth Implant Smile today. Please click here to request an appointment, or call 1-605-301-0916 to schedule an appointment today. Our office is located at 6703 South Louise Avenue, Suite 2, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.