Lost a tooth or more? Are you looking for options? Then you might want to consider a dental implant because they are pretty easy to maintain.
It is understandable that change could be scary, and new technologies are not any less frightening, but a dental implant is not just advanced dental technology, it is a non-complex innovation. Though it involves a procedure carried out by a periodontist, where they carry out the replacement of tooth root with a metal screw made of titanium that serves as a foundation for the artificial tooth, it feels and looks like a natural tooth because it is done in a way that it fuses with the jawbone.
And just as it feels and looks like natural teeth, it is also easy to care for and keep clean like natural teeth. However, there are two periods where one needs to be careful when it comes to dental implants. The first is immediately after the implant surgery, and the second is after the Osseointegration, which is just a scientific fancy word for the process of the bone and metal fusing.
Tips for Keeping Your Dental Implant Teeth Clean
After the surgery, proper care and hygiene are required to prevent infections. It is important to note that the level of commitment to oral hygiene determines how long a dental implant would last. So maintaining long-lasting dental implants, which in turn maintains a long-lasting smile, the following care instructions would come in handy:
- Avoid touching the implant with your tongue or fingers the first day. The new teeth are just settling in; you would not want to intrude and upset them.
- Use a soft-bristled brush, preferably nylon. And as much as possible, limit contact with the implant area while you are brushing. To get rid of any plaque that escapes your toothbrush, rinse your mouth with warm water and salt as gently as possible.
- Avoid hot meals and eat softer food, which means you might have to stay off from eating chips, popcorns, and other sorts of food in that category for a few days, no matter how incredibly tasty they are. Simply see it as little sacrifices you have to make to keep that gorgeous smile. Although you do not necessarily have to walk on eggshells after Osseointegration, you still have to be careful when dealing with your dental implants. At this point, there isn’t much difference between natural teeth and dental implants, which means caring for dental implants follows the same procedures as natural teeth with only a slight difference.
- Brush twice a day as you would brush your natural teeth. However, even after the healing process is complete, a soft brush is still required. Consciously clean above, below the gum line, and in between neighboring teeth to avoid infection. Toothpaste and gel with abrasive ingredients such as baking soda, stain removal scrubs, sodium fluoride, should be avoided as they can cause discomfort in the mouth.
- Floss as many times as possible. It is however advised to use the floss threaders to insert the floss between the implants. And to be absolutely sure of getting all the plaque out, one should use an amicrobial mouth rinse. It is very important to clear the mouth of plaque because the buildup of plaque could cause peri-implantitis.
- Avoid smoking and consuming alcohol; they can slow down the healing process by interfering with blood vessel formation, which starves the new growth in bones. This damages the implants and a lot of other parts of the body.
- Visit the dentist regularly for checkups, probably not visiting the dentist enough was what led to the implant in the first place, and you do not want a repeat of that.
Here Are a Few Tools That Would Help In Keeping Your Dental Implant Squeaky Clean
Toothbrushes
We already know that toothbrushes are needed to keep the mouth clean, but there are specific toothbrushes that make this task easy. Some of which are:
Tufted brush, which has a round head. It is very good for cleaning where the implant meets the gum. When in use, move the brush in a small circles. This kind of motion will help you clean the entire teeth properly.
Angled neck brush is a funny-looking brush, as the name implies, and it is used in cleaning the implant abutment from inside.
Then, there are the regular implant brushes, specifically designed for your implants. It comes with a slim neck, and it is quite soft. This is very useful in cleaning your implant from the outside.
Interdental Brush
These come in different sizes, and you would have to ask your dentist what size is perfect for you. It cleans the inside of your mouth, and it is designed to clean between your teeth, which your regular brush cannot do. When using this, do not push if you notice any resistance as you clean between your teeth. More times than not, this is a sign that you are not using the right size. This may feel like a lot, with so many brushes and all, but you don’t settle for only one accessory, why should your mouth get any less treatment?
Floss
Any floss or unwaxed tape will work just fine for a single-tooth implant, but if you have more than one tooth implant, it is advisable to use a special implant floss.
Water Pic
Water pic helps reduce plaque and inflammation. It is the gentle and tender touch that the implant needs to blossom and shine.
Mouthwash
Research has proven that mouthwashes do indeed eliminate bacteria; it reaches and cleanses the implants in hard-to-reach areas, especially implants used as a replacement for impacted wisdom teeth.
Conclusion
With all this equipment, you are sure to leave no stone unturned in preserving that beautiful smile that lights up your world. Aside from keeping that confidence-inducing smile, we already know that if oral hygiene is not taken seriously, bad things are going to happen. As established earlier, the sustainability of your dental implant depends on how clean those teeth remain. So let them sparkle and shine because that is the only way you can dazzle the world.
