Dental implants have been quite a popular solution for replacing a damaged or missing tooth. Not only do dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, but they also provide optimum durability when maintained properly. Nevertheless, you need to ensure that your implants stay functional for years to come, and for this, you need to follow specific dental implant care guidelines.
In this short article, we will explore essential tips for maintaining dental implants and keeping them in the best possible condition.
Tips to Care Dental Implants for Long-lasting Results
You can enjoy long-lasting results for your dental implants by focusing on the recommended hygiene practices and maintenance. The most important thing is to pay attention to post-implant care as directed by your dentist such as following recovery instructions (through prescribed antibiotics) and avoiding heavy lifting or vigorous exercises.
Here are some of the dental-recommended tips to take care of your dental implants:
Proper Oral Hygiene
The most essential thing in ensuring the durability of your dental implants is to practice the best oral hygiene. While implants aren’t prone to any cavities as natural teeth do, they still show some vulnerability from gum infection if you don’t take proper care. Plaque build-up around the implant is possible which may lead to inflammation or peri-implantitis, a condition wherein the bone surrounding the implant gets badly affected.
Some of the hygiene tips to keep your dental implants in top condition:
- Regular brushing: brush your implants at least two times a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Don’t use hard brushes as they may cause damage to the implant surface as well as gums. Also, use non-abrasive toothpaste to avoid wearing down or scratching the implant content.
- Daily flossing: regular flossing is also important to remove food residuals and plaque between implants and surrounding teeth. There are specially designed floss available for implants or you may use an implant-friendly interdental toothbrush.
- Mouthwash rinsing: after brushing and flossing, rinsing your mouth with antibiotic mouthwash is recommended to prevent bacteria from piling up.
- Say no to tobacco: smoking or consuming any tobacco product is harmful to your teeth, gum, and so implants overall. Tobacco use impairs blood flow to the gum and increases the risks of gum diseases/infections.
Proper Food Texture
One of the main advantages of dental implants is they let you eat most of the food dishes without any fear. Nevertheless, it is important to be mindful of what you consume to keep your implant and surrounding teeth safe.
Some of the types of foods to avoid:
- Avoid hard foods: dental implants are durable and powerful enough to eat any normal food but if you bite into hard foods such as nuts, ice, and hard candy, you are likely to cause potential damage or loosening over time.
- Stay clear from sticky foods: Chewing gum, caramel, and taffy – these are the foods that can glue to the surface of your dental implant. This makes them difficult to clean and, as a result, over time, you find a plaque building up along with other oral issues.
- Big pieces of food: cut food into smaller pieces. Avoid putting too much pressure on your dental implant. Raw vegetables or tough meats, for example, should be consumed in smaller pieces.
Proper and Regular Dental Checkups
The best way to care for your dental implants and make them durable, you visit your dental clinic. While implants are meant to be tough, they still need professional monitoring and care. A professional dentist will check for any indications of bone loss, gum problems, or implant movements – all these affect your oral health.
- Routine cleaning: professional cleaning of teeth every six months (or recommended by a certified dentist) is essential to make sure that your implants are free from tartar or plaque build-up.
- X-ray and inspections: your dentist may also perform regular X-rays to keep an eye on the status of your bone and surrounding tissues. This makes sure that the implant is properly in place. Any early detection can bring an early solution.
Proper Observation
If you notice any discomfort, indication of infection, or bleeding around your implant, you must report it to your dentist without any delay. Early detection of such issues will prevent more severe complications later.
If you observe any of these, contact your dentist:
- Pain in tooth or implant
- Sensitivity in the implanted tooth
- Any discoloration or plaque building
- Implant mobility
- Any possible decay
- Foul smell from mouth
Little Care, Big Benefits
Maintaining dental implants needs consistent care and attention; however, the benefits are well worth the effort. You can ensure the longevity and functionality of dental implants for years to come by practicing optimum oral hygiene, correcting food habits, and keeping up with your regular dentist.
Bissan Dental Dubai is your one-stop solution for dental implant treatment and aftercare. We perform the best treatment and provide you with a detailed after-care regimen. Regular dentist visits are also scheduled post-treatment. With the right care, your dental implants will offer long-lasting solutions to all your oral issues and provide you with an attractive smile.