Dental implants from Mesa, Arizona are a great way to replace missing teeth. When cared for properly, this innovative solution can last a lifetime. If you have dental implants, you’ll want to be sure you perform a specific cleaning and care procedure. Failure to maintain a good oral hygiene technique will lead to gum disease, which causes bone loss. And since implants are held in place by your jaw bone, having healthy bone is crucial for successful implants. Otherwise, gum disease and jaw bone loss will ultimately lead to implant failure.
Your dental implant oral hygiene routine should consist of the following:
Use a Soft Manual or Electric Toothbrush
Medium to hard-bristled toothbrushes are too rough on delicate gum tissue 一 especially if you already have a tendency to brush too forcefully. Though it seems logical that the harder you brush the cleaner your mouth gets, it’s not good for your gum tissue to be this rough. Gums are soft, thin tissues that can be traumatized easily, so stick to using a soft-bristled manual toothbrush, or better yet, an electric toothbrush that will help you with controlling and keeping the right amount of brushing force.
Focus on Your Gums
Though your dental implant isn’t susceptible to developing decay, the gum tissue surrounding it is liable to get gum disease if not cared for properly. While you do want to brush your gum tissue to ensure that it stays healthy, make sure that you’re not hurting yourself. Do not be too forceful. Bleeding is not normal: it’s usually a sign that you have gingivitis or gum disease. If this is the case, seek the guidance of our Mesa dentist right away to determine what’s going on around your implant and how it should be addressed.
Use a Water Flosser Daily
A water flosser is an excellent tool for dental implants. This device consists of a handle that releases a pressurized stream of water to flush away any plaque around your teeth and implants.
Using a water flosser can take a bit of practice if you’re new at it, but it’s a priceless tool when it comes to the health and longevity of your dental work.
Other Oral Hygiene Aids to Clean Dental Implants
Regular floss may also be needed to clean your dental implant. For single implants, floss each side of the crown. At the gumline, create a c-shape with the string, and slide it between the underside of your crown and your gum tissue.
A proxabrush is a helpful tool that looks like a tiny Christmas tree-shaped brush. It works well for cleaning under implant bridges, crowns, and between teeth. This device works well in areas where your regular toothbrush can’t reach.
Also, if you have a dental bridge, then you’ll need to use a floss threader to clean underneath the pontic area. Floss the outermost parts of your implant bridge regularly, but the area that has a fake tooth with no implant attached to it will need to be cleaned a special way. A floss threader works like a needle and thread. Simply thread the floss into the eye of the floss threader. To clean the underneath side of the bridge, insert the stiff end between the bridge and your gums. Once it reaches the other side, grab it and pull the floss through. Once you’ve threaded the floss through, you can discard the floss threader itself. Take the floss and glide it back and forth along the gums and under the bridge to clean any stuck-on debris. Be sure to wrap it around the inside of the supporting implants to clean those areas too. When you’re finished, simply pull the floss the rest of the way out.
Are Dental Implants Right for You?
If you’re interested in replacing your missing teeth with dental implants, the first step is to come to see our Mesa, Arizona dentist for a consultation. There are several things to consider like bone width and depth, the anatomy of your sinuses, and your past gum health.
If you already have a dental implant and need tips and tricks on how to best care for it, then our hygienist can help. With the right resources available, you can help keep your supporting tissues healthy enough to enjoy your dental implants for the rest of your life.
Need more information? Call Dr. Vinh Huynh, DMD, and the friendly staff of Eastport Valley Dentistry in Mesa, Arizona today. We look forward to hearing from you.
