Getting new dental implants comes with a long list of benefits: You get to smile without being self-conscious, eat more comfortably, speak easier, and your oral health is also likely better. Nonetheless, they are foreign objects in your mouth, so properly caring for new all-on-4 dental implants may be confusing.
How to Clean Dental Implants
It may be tempting to think that since dental implants are not natural teeth, you don’t have to worry about tooth decay. This is far from true. While the implant itself won’t get cavities, the gum line around it can get infected by bacterial overgrowth resulting in peri-implant diseases.
This is why you need to prioritize caring for your dental implants.
1. Brushing
Brush the implants at a forty-five-degree angle to the gum line in circular motions. Avoid brushing side to side, since this motion doesn’t fully eliminate plaque. Pay close attention to the gumline. This will get rid of plaque that could otherwise threaten the implants’ support.
2. Oral Irrigation
An effective way to get rid of food particles and bacteria that were missed by your toothbrush is to use a Waterpik. While you could opt for flossing, several studies have concluded that implant patients who use a Waterpik for plaque removal experienced significantly less gum bleeding.
3. Interdental Brushes
For those of you not familiar with interdental brushes, they are very thin, round brushes designed to clean between your teeth. They’re an alternative for people who are not fans of Waterpik, but who need additional help to remove plaque from the gum line.
If you choose to use these brushes, opt for the plastic-coated ones since metal wires can cause irritation around the implanted tooth.
4. Brush Twice Per Day
While we recommend brushing after every meal, if doing so is not realistic for your lifestyle, at a minimum, do it twice per day.
5. Use a Non-abrasive Toothpaste
The ingredients in some toothpaste brands could deteriorate the materials in dental implants. Avoid ingredients such as baking soda, sodium fluoride, or anything designed for stain removal.
6. Use an Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
Most commercial mouthwash contains alcohol as one of the main ingredients. While it gives you fresh breath, it also causes dry mouth, which can diminish the body’s ability to fight against infection through saliva.
Dental Implant Specialists in Dallas
If you’re considering dental implants, let us help you. At FastNewSmile® we offer free consultations and use the highest grade of dental implants nationwide. We’ll match or beat competitor prices, and we provide a lifetime guarantee. For some procedures, you can leave with a brand new smile on the same day you visit! Contact us today for your FastNewSmile®