When you choose to receive dental implants in Mankato, you choose to invest in your oral health and your confidence. Naturally, you want to protect that investment so it serves you well for as long as possible. One of the keys to maintaining your dental implants is proper oral hygiene. This article briefly discusses how you can clean and protect your dental implants both immediately after placement and well into the future.
Immediately After Placement
Your surgeon will provide you with detailed guidance on how to care for your mouth during the first few days after you receive the dental implants. They may advise you to:
- Rinse with saltwater a few times a day
- Keep brushing your teeth, but be very gentle around the surgical site(s)
- Avoid any hard, crunchy, or starchy foods that might irritate the tissue around the implants or get stuck around them
At-Home Long-term Care
After you have completely recovered from your surgery and your dentist in Mankato has designed and placed your restoration, you will need to continue to be diligent about caring for your dental implants. Cleaning your implants is quite easy; you can brush and floss just like you would do for your natural teeth. Your dentist might recommend specific dental products that will allow you to clean your restorations without inadvertently scratching them.
Depending on the specific nature of your restoration, you may need to take additional steps to care for your dental implants. For example, if you have an implant-supported bridge, you should use a floss threader to clean the small space between your artificial tooth (or teeth) and your gums. If you have a removable, implant-supported denture, you should use a soft-bristled brush to clean the implant abutments.
Professional Maintenance
Even if all of your teeth have been replaced by dental implants, it is still vital that you regularly visit your dentist. He or she will examine your implants for any signs of infection and make sure your gums are healthy. Your dentist may also remove your restorations (even ones that are screwed onto the implants) so in order to thoroughly clean the implant abutments.
The Importance of Implant Care
Dental implant failure is rare, and it can happen for a number of reasons, including a lack of proper oral hygiene. If you do not maintain a clean mouth through at-home care and professional checkups, bacteria have a greater opportunity to infiltrate the tissue around the dental implants. Eventually, the infection can worsen to the point where the dental implants are no longer viable. Other potential consequences of improper implant care include bad breath and discoloration on your new teeth.
Have you invested in dental implants, or are you going to receive them in the future? Use the above guidelines to protect your precious smile.
About the Author
Dr. James Kalina is an experienced general and restorative dentist. He has helped many patients to enjoy the beautiful, strong smiles that dental implants can provide. If you have missing teeth that you would like to have replaced, or if it is time for your next dental implant checkup, contact Dr. Kalina’s office today at 507-625-2021.
