Keeping Your Dental Implant Healthy

Dental implants have a very high rate of success and for many people, they can last a lifetime. When you take good care of your implant, it will give you lifelong service and remain healthy. Here are a few tips to help you keep your implant healthy for years to come.

Good Oral Hygiene Practice

The fact that you have an implant means that you have exhibited good oral hygiene practices. Keep up the good work. Make sure you are using the right toothbrush to keep your gums and teeth healthy. You can ask your dentist for a recommendation. Most will suggest a soft bristle brush with rounded bristle tips. These have been shown to be most effective for removing plaque from teeth and gums. Some individuals also use an interdental toothbrush to use around crowns and other restorations.

Your gums and natural teeth are not resistant to decay, so it is good to use a toothpaste with fluoride. Although this will not have an impact on your dental implant, it will help keep your natural teeth strong and disease resistant.

When an implant fails, it is often due to gum disease. You can prevent this from happening by flossing regularly to keep food particles and harmful bacteria from causing problems. Your regular checkup will also help ensure that your gums are healthy and in good condition.

Watch What You Eat

It is always a good idea to keep an eye on the foods you eat. For overall health, it is important to eat healthy foods and watch your sugar intake. To keep your dental implants healthy, watching your sugar intake is essential. Excess sugar intake accelerates plaque buildup, which is detrimental to the health of your implant. Plaque buildup leads to gum disease and as stated above, this is one of the major causes of implant failure. By limiting your intake of sugary foods and beverages, you are promoting overall good health and helping to keep your oral health at its best.

Avoid Gum Disease

Keeping up with your oral hygiene is the best way to avoid gingivitis and more severe gum disease from developing. Make sure you keep up with your regular dental checkups as well. Floss around the implant daily with unwaxed dental floss and you may want to use a recommended oral irrigator.

If you have overdentures, you need to take good care of your gums. You should also inspect the O-rings, locator caps and clips for wear. Brush the underside of your dentures gently with a denture brush and soak in a recommended cleaner as directed. Your dentist may suggest that O-rings and locator caps be replaced annually.

At Feather Touch Dental Care, we provide a wide range of cosmetic dental services including dental implants. If you have missing teeth, make a consultation appointment with us to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants.

Posted on Behalf of Feather Touch Dental Care