Caring for Your Dental Implants: 5 Essential Tips You Should Know
by Harold Coleman
Dental implant care is crucial in ensuring that your implants last for a long time. Remember that your implant is a permanent fixture, and you should care for them like your regular teeth. Failure to adhere to proper dental care can cause plaque to form around the implant, resulting in gum disease or other dental issues. To ensure that you have a long-lasting implant, here are a few care tips you should know.
Keep Off Alcohol or Cigarettes
Smoking can negatively affect the health of your implant, particularly during the first six months of healing. It reduces the blood supplied to your teeth and gums, weakening your bone structure. Though occasional drinking of alcoholic drinks may not affect your implant, you should avoid taking too much alcohol after placing a dental implant. That's because it derails the healing process, and you may eventually develop tooth sensitivity and oral pain.
Brush and Floss Your Teeth At Least Twice a Day
Dental implants may be artificial teeth, but you should care for them like your natural teeth. That means you should brush and floss them at least twice a day. Flossing around the base of your teeth is a great way to remove the debris accumulated in the area. It also helps to eliminate any build-up of bacteria and plaque along the gums, preventing gum disease.
Select the Right Toothpaste
After fitting your dental implants, you should avoid using abrasive toothpaste. A little toothpaste can clean the teeth thoroughly and remove stains on the surface, but too much abrasion can damage your dental implant. So, when choosing toothpaste, avoid the brands that contain "whitening agents," as they tend to be highly abrasive.
Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods
Hard food can cause your teeth to break, forcing you to get additional implants. Sticky foods can also compromise your dental implant structure and makes them weak. Additionally, it is advisable to avoid overly hot meals until your newly-installed implant recovers.
Stick To Gentle Cleaning Products
If you like a hard-bristled toothbrush, switch to a soft toothbrush after receiving your implants to prevent discomfort. Nylon brushes are an excellent choice so long as they're flexible and gentle on your implant. You should also avoid flavored oral dental products since they may cause additional discomfort in your mouth.
Dental implants can boost your self-esteem. But to ensure that they remain in great shape for a long time, you should take great care of them. The tips highlighted in this article should guide you on how best to care for your implants.
To find out more, contact Total Freedom Dental Implant Center.
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About Me
I have never liked my teeth. I had a lot of dental problems, including deep staining and oddly shaped teeth. Every tooth did not have the same shape, and some were rounded while others were more square. Not surprisingly, I never smiled in pictures and not even much in real life. This left people thinking I was mean before they even met me. My dentist told me my best bet to improve the look of my smile was a set of porcelain dental veneers. He said they could make all my teeth white and the same shape. I said I wanted them without any hesitation, and we scheduled my procedures. I love my new teeth, and they really did change my life. I created this blog to help other people living with teeth they don't like realize that they do have options that can improve their smiles and their lives.