Did you know you can directly impact the success of your dental implants?
The foods you eat, the dental care products you use, and how you care for your surrounding teeth and gums are just some of the factors that can affect your implants. Explore our guide and learn how to take care of your dental implants after placement and well into the future.
Post-Operative Care for a Successful Recovery
During the first few days following your dental implant procedure, we recommend that you:
- Avoid eating any hard foods that could injure your surgical site. We recommend sticking with soft or pureed foods and clear liquids for the first few days.
- Don’t use a straw, spit, or do anything else that puts pressure on the implant site. Doing so could prevent the area from fully healing.
- Rinse with salt water two to three times a day to clean the surgical area and reduce inflammation. Remember to let the water flow out the corner of your mouth instead of spitting it out.
- Refrain from smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. Both can reduce blood flow and impede the healing process.
Long-term Dental Implant Care
Once the initial healing process is complete, follow these guidelines to make sure your dental implants remain healthy and attractive for years to come.
Maintain Proper Oral Care
The health of your gums is vital to the long-term success of your dental implants. Although your implants won’t decay or become infected like natural teeth, any infection in your gums can put them in jeopardy.
Infected tissues around the dental implant can lead to peri-implantitis, a condition that causes bone loss. This can loosen the post and ultimately lead to implant failure.
Thoroughly removing infection-causing bacteria and food particles is the best way to make sure your gums, implant, and entire mouth stay healthy.
This is why consistent oral care — brushing twice a day for two minutes at a time and flossing once a day — is essential for long-term dental implant success. We also recommend rinsing with mouthwash at the end of your oral care routine to remove any leftover debris or germs.
Choose the Best Dental Care Products
While you can brush and floss your dental implants the same way you do your natural teeth, there are some guidelines for choosing your oral care products. Avoiding products that can scratch or damage the replacement teeth will make sure they look beautiful for years to come.
- Toothbrush – Choose one with soft bristles that won’t irritate the surrounding gum tissue or scratch your restoration.
- Toothpaste – Find a gentle product that doesn’t contain any harsh or abrasive ingredients, which are common in toothpaste designed for teeth whitening or for smokers.
- Floss – Pick one that’s nylon coated or specially made for use with dental implants.
- Mouthwash – Avoid any that list alcohol as an ingredient because it can dry out your mouth and interfere with healing.
Visit Us for Regular Checkups
Your regular professional cleanings and checkups are even more important now that you have dental implants.
During these appointments, we’ll thoroughly clean your teeth and examine your entire mouth for any potential problems. If any issues are found, we can begin treatment before these issues endanger the health of your implant.