Taking Care of Your Dental Implant Dental Implant CareAre you ready to join the millions of Americans and counting who have had dental implant surgery? Dental implants are now the most common tooth replacement procedure in the United States and the number of patients is growing annually. You’ll be happy to hear that taking care of your dental implants is not difficult at all. In most regards, it mimics the care you’ve already been providing for your natural teeth. Although your dental implants can’t get cavities, they’re still susceptible to problems if you don’t take care of them properly. Bacteria can still gather near the gums and cause issues in your mouth as plaque. This can lead to bleeding, a concern known in the medical field as gingivitis. If not treated early, this can lead to a further condition known as periodontitis, which can result in bone loss and even necessitate the removal of the implant. Naturally, we want to avoid any complications. So what are the ways in which we can take care of our dental implants? Luckily, much of taking care of your implants revolves around the same kind of consistent oral hygiene routine that you’re already used to with your natural teeth. Simply brush twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush and floss daily. Be gentle on your implants, you don’t want to overdo it and cause damage. Consider using a low-abrasive, tartar-control toothpaste. Try dental floss that is designed specially for dental implants. Use mouthwash to remove food and bacteria and keep your mouth extra clean. Dental implants are made from titanium and that means they’re strong, but not indestructible. You still have to take good care of them. After all, you spent a good amount of time, effort, and money to get them. Make sure that you only use your implants for their intended purpose, chewing. That means no biting, tearing, or chomping on things that aren’t food. They’re simply not designed for anything like this, and will be damaged by these actions. Learn more about safe foods to eat after all-on-4 implants. While we’re on the subject of things you shouldn’t do, implant or otherwise, patients would do well to avoid smoking and tobacco products in general. Tobacco leaves stains and makes it easier to get gum disease, not to mention all the usual health risks associated with it. The same goes for alcohol. Now don’t think that just because you have dental implants, you can skip routine checkups to the dentist. You’ll still need the type of cleanings that only the professionals at Dallas Oral Surgery can provide. They’ll use appointments to access your implants and assess any risks or possibilities of complications. Dental implants are now extremely common in the United States and dentists are used to addressing any concerns a patient might have. If you’re worried that you’re not taking care of your dental implants correctly or are simply having a hard time adjusting to them, give our office a call at 214-363-9946 today. We here at Dallas Oral Surgery can help guide you in the right direction towards a life of carefree living, as far as your dental implants are concerned anyway. |
