Due to technological advancements, dental implants are available to more patients than ever before. This radical treatment gives you a natural-looking tooth replacement option that restores the gaps in your smile caused by missing or damaged teeth.
Dental implants are extremely durable, but they must be maintained with proper oral hygiene if you want them to last. That’s why we recommend following specific oral care guidelines to get the most out of the treatment.
Sustain Strong & Healthy Implants
Caring for your dental implants is essential for maintaining good oral health, as well as increasing their longevity. By brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing after you eat, and visiting Dr. Terence Lau and Dr. Casey Lau regularly, it will help your implants last for many years.
How Do I Care For Dental Implants?
- Brush and floss the dental implant area lightly, but thoroughly.
- Use mouthwash to rinse once a day.
- Schedule an extra visit to the dentist each year (three total).
Dental implants are on their way to becoming the most recommended tooth restoration option for reasons besides how they look; such as their natural-feel, their strength, and their ability to encourage healthy jawbone growth.
As long as you follow your Mid-Valley dentists’ care instructions, your dental implants can last a lifetime.
Care Gently with Gentle Care Products
One of the most substantial advantages of dental implants is their simple care regimen. Dental implants don’t require any extra maintenance than your natural teeth. If you stay on top of routine brushing and flossing, your tooth replacement will last a very long time.
There might not be a difference in caring for your natural teeth and your implant, however, we recommend choosing soft, non-abrasive hygiene products. By avoiding our advice, you increase the chance that you’ll scratch the titanium fixture or the porcelain crown. Abrasive care products can also irritate the soft gum tissue around your implant.
Selecting a Dental Floss
Firstly, the hygiene product we would like to discuss is dental floss. Flossing is a crucial part of maintaining robust oral health. It removes plaque and debris from difficult spots that your toothbrush can’t reach. We recommend flossing with nylon-coated floss when cleaning your dental implants because it’s designed to glide between the teeth and gums.
Some companies sell floss that is created specifically for use with dental implants.
Choosing a Mouthwash
Gum disease is caused by bacteria that feeds off of the plaque and tartar in your mouth. Gum disease can cause bleeding, swelling, and tooth loss. Introducing the recommended amount of antibacterial mouthwash into your care routine can significantly decrease your chance of developing mouthwash.
With that said, there are two types of mouthwash to avoid if you have dental implants:
- Teeth-whitening mouthwash – Mouthwash that promotes teeth-whitening contains harsh ingredients that can scratch and damage your dental implant.
- Mouthwash with alcohol – Saliva is your mouths first line of defense against dangerous bacteria, and mouthwash with alcohol in it can cause dry mouth, depleting your natural protection.
Picking a Toothbrush & Toothpaste
With so many options, shopping for dental care products can be daunting. If you’re looking for a toothbrush, remember to pick one that has soft or extras soft bristles. This will decrease the likelihood of you scratching your dental implant.
Once you’ve secured your soft bristle toothbrush, you need some toothpaste. There are brands of toothpaste that contain abrasive ingredients, so be sure to read the labels carefully. At Mid-Valley Dental Implants, we recommend avoiding two types of toothpaste: whitening toothpaste and toothpaste that contains baking soda.
Whitening toothpaste can scratch the surface of your porcelain crown or titanium fixture. Avoiding this toothpaste and toothpaste that contains baking soda will help protect your implant and the gum that surrounds it. Continuous use of toothpaste with baking soda can damage your enamel.
What Should I Avoid After Dental Implant Placement?
After dental implant placement, avoid rinsing your mouth and do your best not to touch or disturb the surgical site with your tongue or fingers. This may cause bleeding by dislodging the blood clot that has formed.
Also, don’t spit, suck on straws, or smoke tobacco. These can impede the healing process and dislodge blood clots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dental implants be whitened?
Restorations used for dental implants can’t be whitened since they’re made of stain-resistant or stain proof material. If you want to undergo professional teeth whitening, the Drs. Lau recommend doing so before you receive your implants. That way, your implants can be designed to match the shade of your stunning new smile in the future.
Can dental implants break?
Your restoration and abutment are vulnerable to damage, while the titanium implant itself is less likely to bend or break, especially if it fused to your jawbone properly. However, with enough trauma, a dental implant can bend or break and will need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Additionally, it’s likely that your restoration will need to be replaced every 15 years due to normal wear and tear. To protect your implants and your restoration, be sure to attend your follow up exams so your dentist can routinely check on the status of your restorations and titanium implants.
How do I know if my dental implant is broken?
It’s important to watch for the signs of a broken or damaged dental implant. Commons signs of a damaged implant include:
- Bad taste or smell
- Pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Bleeding
- Loss of stability in the crown
- Gum recession
If you notice that your implant is damaged or that your restoration feels uncomfortable, we encourage you to contact our Northridge office immediately by dialing 818-239-4956 for further assistance.
What can I eat and drink after dental implant placement?
For at least a week after implant placement, you’ll need to stick to soft, mild foods that will be easy on your gums and your implants. Avoid foods that are crunchy, hard, brittle, or spicy and drinks that are hot, caffeinated, carbonated, alcoholic, or sugary. These items can interfere with the healing process if reintroduced into your diet too soon and potentially cause complications.