Dental implants are an amazing tooth replacement option, because these replacement teeth are permanently implanted into your jawbone—allowing you to smile and speak confidently. Because dental implants are not removable, like bridges and dentures, patients care for dental implants much like they care for natural teeth. Today I’m going to review how you, as a patient, should care for you dental implants to help them last for years.
The first step to caring for you dental implants is to clean them thoroughly everyday. Just as you brush and floss your natural teeth, it’s important to brush and floss your dental implants to minimize plaque build-up. Make sure to brush morning and night, and floss at least once a day.
The next thing you should do to keep your dental implants healthy is to maintain a schedule of semi-annual professional dental cleanings. These cleanings are vital for keeping your restorations clean, and for allowing your dentist to check your implants for strength and stability.
It’s also important that you tailor your habits to protect your dental implants. Don’t chomp on ice or hard candies, as these can damage your dental implants and compromise their strength. Also, beware that Bruxism—which is a condition in which patients grind or clench their teeth—is also very harmful to dental implants. It’s important to seek treatment for Bruxism before you receive your dental implants, if at all possible.
With proper care, dental implants can last for over a decade before they need to be replaced. Follow these simple tips, along with any specific instructions from your dentist, in order to preserve your replacement teeth for years to come. Our O’Fallon dental implant dentists can give your more information about dental implant treatment at your consultation—just give us a call!