Dental implants are artificial roots usually made of titanium which are surgically placed inside your jaw to secure a replacement artificial tooth into them. Dental implants are ideal for people who have lost teeth due to decay, gum disease or sometimes injury because they have a longer life span and look like real teeth. Implants although costly are much more superior to bridges or dentures because of their durability and comfort.
If you or someone you know has been surgically placed with dental implants, then you would know that caring for natural teeth and caring for implants is vastly different. False teeth replacements though made to be extremely reliable still need careful maintenance. When patients have had implant surgery, they have questions about their implants regarding special care and cleaning. Regular care before, during and after you’ve had your implants placed is of extreme importance.
Here are some useful tips to help you preserve your implants.
Daily Care and Cleaning
Just as normal teeth need proper cleaning, dental implants need their share of cleaning. Dental implants sometimes need more attention because a dental biofilm can develop on it. Dental biofilm is a yellowish plaque of disease causing bacteria which accumulate on the surface and can be very dangerous for implants. Regular brushing twice daily with a soft and non-abrasive brush whether sonic, electric or manual is a good way to keep your implants clean. A Nylon made interdental brush is also very effective in cleaning around hard to reach implant areas. These brushes can also be used with anti-bacterial dental gel. Special type of implant floss is also beneficial for preserving healthy implants.
Look into Extra Care
You can actually buy extra tools and implements for your implants after having a consultation with your dental hygienist. There are some great products available to clean implants.
- Interdental brushes Interdental brushes come in different sizes and you have to use one that fits you by consulting your dentist. These brushes are very small and help to clean the sensitive areas between the implants.
- Outside and Inside Implant Brushes Outside implant brushes are easy to use and clean your implants efficiently. You just simply brush the narrow brush along the gum line and clean your implants from the outside. Inside Implant brushes are angled and help to clean the inside sensitive area of the implant.
- Implant Floss and Round Brushes Round implant brushes help to clean the area where the gums meet the implant. A special kind of implant floss helps to clean around implants and under bridges.
- Oral Irrigators Oral irrigators are a very good investment. Used once or twice daily with a non-alcoholic rinse formula, they can eliminate plaque and biofilm permanently from your implants.
Schedule Regular Checkups
Regular dental implant checkups should be scheduled for maximum care. At least once a month, you should go and get a thorough checkup of your implants to ensure their health. Sometimes like natural teeth, the gum around your implant can become infected and inflamed. Other times the implant bridge breaks due to injury or impact. You can avoid further complications by regular visits to your dentist.
Establish an Individual Care Routine
A very useful way to maintain healthy implants for a longtime is to establish an individual implant care routine with your regular dental hygienist. If you find it hard to maintain your implants at home, a good way is to schedule appointments with your dental hygienist to get your implants professionally cleaned.
In the end whether they are implants or real teeth, you cannot keep them healthy and durable without the proper care and maintenance. If you protect your investment, it will give you great results and the same goes for implants.
