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Keeping up with oral hygiene with dental implants is important when it comes to maintaining the quality of your implants.
While maintaining oral hygiene is essential whether you have dental implants or not, there are a few factors to keep in mind when it comes to specifically caring for implants.
In this blog, we’ll go over how to maintain oral hygiene with dental implants, from daily cleaning to longer-term care, and the possible issues that could arise that mean a prompt check-up may be necessary.
What are titanium dental implants, and are they easy to care for?
Made with durable titanium, dental implants are secured into the jawbone to replace missing teeth. Unlike dentures, they provide a securely-fitted and long-lasting solution to missing teeth, and should provide good functionality – just like natural teeth.
Just like your natural teeth, titanium dental implants will require regular care to keep them in good condition and to prevent issues like plaque buildup or gum inflammation. While titanium implants are quite durable and won’t be susceptible to decay in the same way as natural teeth, the surrounding gums and bone still need good care to avoid complications.
Dental implants are quite easy to care for – in fact, maintaining a regular oral hygiene routine, keeping some important long-term tips in mind and attending your routine check-ups should be enough to help maintain the quality of your implants.
Our daily cleaning tips for good oral hygiene with dental implants
Firstly, brushing and flossing is the foundation of good oral hygiene – even with dental implants.
A soft-bristled toothbrush is usually recommended, as it’s gentle enough to avoid irritating the gums while still effectively removing plaque. Some patients prefer an electric toothbrush, which can help provide a more thorough clean, but the most important thing is to brush carefully around the dental implant and on your gums.
Flossing is just as important. Unlike natural teeth, implants don’t have a periodontal ligament, which means bacteria can accumulate around them more easily. Special implant-friendly floss can help clean around the implant without causing damage. Some people also find interdental brushes useful for reaching areas that floss might miss, especially around the base of the implant.
As for toothpaste, a gentler product is usually best, as certain whitening formulas may contain ingredients that could be too harsh for the implant surface. You may also be able to use an antibacterial mouthwash to help further remove any bacteria.
Important tips to prevent damage
Apart from maintaining your oral hygiene with dental implants, making sure that you are preventing causing any damage can help to preserve the implant’s quality.
Although implants are designed to function like natural teeth, certain habits and foods can still put unnecessary strain on them.
Very hard or sticky foods, such as hard lollies, can put extra pressure on the implant and should be avoided where possible. While implants themselves won’t decay, sugary foods and drinks can still contribute to gum issues, which may affect the tissue surrounding the implant.
Grinding or clenching the teeth can also create stress on implants over time. If this is something you may experience, a custom mouthguard may help protect the implants while sleeping.
If you perform any activities that could put the implants at risk of damage, such as contact sports, it’s important to wear a mouthguard or take other steps to protect your teeth.
If you want personalised advice on how to protect your implants, please feel free to ask our team!
Long-term maintenance and the importance of regular check-ups
When you have dental implants, regular dental check-ups will be an important part of your longer-term dental care plan.
Overtime, we will need to monitor the implant, surrounding gums, and bone structure to make sure everything is stable. Our team can also perform a professional cleaning using instruments designed for implants, as metal tools used on natural teeth can sometimes scratch the implant’s surface.
Not only can your check-ups help us to ensure that your oral health is in check, they will also allow us to discuss your daily oral hygiene habits and provide you with any further advice. Most people with implants will have routine check-ups every six months, but if there are any concerns – such as early signs of gum inflammation – we may recommend to have check-ups more frequently.
If you notice any discomfort, swelling, bleeding while brushing or flossing, or movement around the implant, we recommend contacting us so that we can make sure that no complications have occurred. Even small changes in how the implant feels can sometimes indicate a problem, such as minor gum irritation or an issue with the implant’s placement. Addressing these issues early can help to prevent any further concerns.
To help you manage longer-term care with dental implants, we can discuss a treatment plan based on your individual needs. We prioritise providing personalised care and focus on education, ensuring that you know how to care for your implants and general oral health well.
Titanium Dental Implants and Dental Care at Oasis Dental Studio in the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Pottsville
At Oasis Dental Studio, we perform procedure with dental implants to a high standard, using high-quality equipment and technology. We use only the highest quality titanium dental implants, which supports longevity.
After receiving dental implants, we provide our patients with ongoing care to help you maintain your oral hygiene in the long-term.
Our team can provide you with personalised advice on how to care for your implants and general oral health, as well as create a plan detailing how regularly check-up appointments will be needed.
High-quality implants, thorough aftercare and tailored advice can help to ensure that your implants will remain in good condition for as long as possible.
If you think you may need dental implants or would like to discuss the steps for maintaining oral hygiene with dental implants, you are welcome to get in touch with our team at our Gold Coast, Brisbane or Pottsville locations.
