A: To take care of your dental implants we always recommend a night guard as well as coming at least twice a year for dental cleanings.
Are you considering getting dental implants in Houston? You probably have a lot of questions that most patients ask as well. One of the most often asked questions we get asked is how to care for dental implants.
We understand. Dental implants in Houston dentistry, are one of the most popular tooth restoration options. Patients make a significant investment into their implants because they offer permanent benefits such as:
- Improved oral mechanic
- Boosts self-confidence
- Won’t decay like natural teeth
- Achieves a perfect smile
- Easy to care for
With something so advanced as dental implants, in Houston Q&A sessions most patients are concerned about maintenance. They tend to be under the impression that implants require more care than natural teeth. They assume that something as advanced as the implants we use must require as complex maintenance as dentures do.
Well, the truth is they are just as easy as caring for your natural teeth with one huge benefit—they can’t decay. So, you should be very excited because your smile is about to look perfect—permanently.
Now, even though they can’t decay, getting dental implants in Houston is not an excuse to forego proper oral hygiene. Food particles can still get stuck between the teeth on the prosthetic and in your gums. Failure to brush, floss, and use mouth wash daily can still lead to gum disease which can lead to implant failure among other issues.
If you want to get that perfect smile and keep it—proper oral care is still non-negotiable, it must be consistent. So what do you need to take care of your implants? Not much else than what you likely already have.
Caring For Dental Implants In Houston
Once you walk out of your dentist with your new smile, you’re going to be excited to take care of them. It’s like when you buy a new car, you are overly careful with it, dusting the inside daily, and washing it nonstop. However, over time you get a bit complacent and you slack on caring for your car.
The same thing happens when patients get dental implants in Houston. They see that perfect smile and they are so proud. They commit to taking excellent oral care and follow through—for a few months. Then, life sets in, they get busy and fall into the false sense of security just because implants don’t decay.
We see a lot of patients that come in with inflammation of the gums, halitosis, and other issues from slacking on oral care. It can happen due to:
- Forgetting to floss daily
- Brushing teeth every other day or longer (gross!)
- Missing regular dental checkups
- Only brushing once a day
So, not surprisingly, that’s the wrong way to go about caring for your dental implants. You’re risking your oral health by getting lazy just because implants don’t decay. So, what do you need to care for your implants? Well, it’s simple, keep reading to find out:
Brush Smarter, Not Harder
Once you get dental implants you may go gung ho on brushing and flossing and that’s not a bad thing. You just need to make sure you’re focusing on brushing smart, not hard. If you brush too hard or use a toothbrush with hard bristles you can do some damage.
Dental implants are strong, yes—but not invincible, and repeated brushing with hard bristles can scratch the surface. The solution is to go with a soft nylon toothbrush as nylon bristles are more flexible and perfect for implants.
Depending on your implants, you might also get a Proxabrush, which is a specially-designed toothbrush. It gets around the spaces surrounding your dental implants to make sure no spots are missed.
Either way, continue to brush twice daily (after you floss of course!)
Do Not Use Charcoal Paste Or Other Abrasive Fads
Whether you’re shopping for oral rinse or toothpaste stay away from charcoal products or anything with abrasives. These products are gimmicks that can damage both natural teeth and dental implants alike. Additionally, you might want to also avoid products with intense flavorings such as cinnamon. These flavorings can give you an uncomfortable feeling in your mouth.
Stay Flossy
No, we’re not talking about wearing the latest threads, we’re talking about floss at least twice a day. If you can maintain it, it’s even better to floss after every meal.
Flossing is critical to good oral health when you have natural teeth, and even more important with dental implants. Plaque can easily build up around your implants which can cause a condition called peri-implantitis. It’s the same thing as gum disease, but when you have dental implants. Rather than the result being tooth loss, your implants could fail.
As much of an investment as you make into dental implants, this can be a costly condition that’s easily avoided. Almost 98.5% of peri-implantitis cases are due to failure to properly care for dental implants in Houston.
The symptoms are identical to gum disease— inflamed gums, reddish color, and increased sensitivity. If it’s not treated properly, gums will bleed when you floss and brush. However, the good news is that if you catch it early and take care of it—it’s reversible.
There’s also floss that’s specifically designed for patients with implants, so there’s no excuse to skip flossing.
Avoid Tobacco And Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Avoiding smoking altogether and limiting alcohol consumption is a great way to improve your overall health. However, when you have implants it is even more important. Remember that on average, dental implant healing time is anywhere from 6 months to a year. Tobacco use during and after this time significantly increases your chance of implant failure. Nicotine usage and heavy alcohol consumption slow down your body’s healing process. If you’re consuming these two substances post-op, it’s a mistake that could cost you thousands. If your implants fail, you are liable and then you’re back to square one.
Don’t Skip Your Regular Dental Exams
Dental implants can restore your smile and they will never decay. However, that doesn’t mean you never need to get a checkup. It’s critical to see your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and exam. With proper hygiene and keeping up with your dental visits, your implants can last for the rest of your life.
CDG—The Best Dental Implants In Houston
The best way to care for dental implants is to start with the best dental implant surgeons in Houston. Dr. Hanna has performed thousands of successful implant procedures and can restore your smile in as little as one day.
Contact us today for a free consultation and get your smile back!
