A Dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to provide a permanent base to the replacement tooth. Dental implants are the best choice for those who missed their tooth due to various reasons such as an injury, tooth decay, or some other reason. With proper dental care, your dental implants can last for even your lifetime. By taking proper home care and maintenance, you can ensure the health of your implants.
Most patients are concern about what kind of maintenance they should give to their implants for proper maintenance. You may think that you can brush and floss the same way as with your natural teeth, but your dental implant needs a different approach while brushing and flossing. In brief, your implants need specialised care and maintenance to give you a perfect smile and last for many years. Here we have mentioned few tips to care and maintain your dental implants.
Avoid Abrasive Toothpaste
As like your natural teeth, it is vital to clean your implants to limit the occurrence of tartar and plaque. Due to the position of your implants in your gums and bone, it can be easily infected causing implant loss. So you should be careful while choosing the toothpaste for brushing your implants. You need to avoid abrasive toothpaste that contain grainy substances like baking soda that is good at removing surface stains from your natural tooth, but it can damage your dental implant material that leads to wearing down of your implants.
Avoid Toothpaste containing Fluoride
Toothpaste and mouthwash with highly concentrated fluoride can remove the protective oxide layer of your implants which results in implant decay. So you need to choose the toothpaste that contains less amount of fluoride in it to safeguard the protective layer of your implant.
Soft-bristled Toothbrush
Using a soft-bristled toothbrush will protect your implant from scratches and severe damage. It is also recommended to use a soft-bristle toothbrush to avoid the similar damages caused by abrasive toothpaste. In order to protect the sealing around your implant and prevent infection, you need to treat your gum tissues with a lot of care. You can get your dentist’s advice about the type of toothbrush that suits you well.
Flossing and Rinsing
Flossing your teeth and implants regularly can help you to maintain your oral health in good condition. Flossing daily with non-waxed floss helps you to maintain clean tooth and implant surfaces below your gum line. Rinsing with the mouthwash is also recommended for healthy teeth and gums. So you need to have a consultation with your dentist about the product of your choice to know whether it is safe for your dental implants or not.
Also, you need a regular dental visit with your dentist for a specialized cleaning, maintenance, and care to ensure the longevity of your implants.