Dental Implant Care
Your Implant Hygiene
If you’ve already restored your smile with dental implants from Tharp & Klaus, then you know how attractive and convenient they are. One of the major benefits is how easy it is to care for your dental implants.
While dentures must be removed nightly, you take care of your dental implants the same way you care for your natural teeth — by visiting Tharp & Klaus for regular checkups and following an effective home care regimen. That means brushing and flossing twice a day, every day. The main difference between caring for your implants and caring for your natural teeth is that you want to select hygiene products that are gentle for use with your implants. It’s important to avoid scratching the implants and you don’t want to aggravate the soft tissue around your dental implant.
Why Good Hygiene is So Important
Securing the long-term health of your dental implants starts with adopting an effective preventive hygiene routine at home. One of the most significant risks to implants is peri-implantitis.
Peri-implantitis is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the soft tissue around your dental implants. Peri-implantitis often develops without obvious symptoms. That’s why it’s essential to visit Tharp & Klaus for regular checkups so we can continue to monitor your oral health and the status of your implants.
Choosing the Best Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Studies indicate that you can effectively clean around your implant using either an electric toothbrush or manual toothbrush. Soft or extra soft bristles are recommended to avoid scratching the implants. It’s important to brush for at least two minutes, thoroughly covering all sections of your smile. Many electric toothbrushes have timers to remind you to brush long enough. Electric toothbrushes are recommended for patients who have difficulty applying sufficient pressure on their own.
It’s important to stay away from toothpaste containing abrasive ingredients that could damage your implants. Avoid all of the following types of toothpaste: smokers’ toothpaste, stain-removing toothpaste, and any toothpaste containing baking soda, sodium fluoride, or stannous fluoride.
Choosing the Best Mouthwash and Interdental Cleaner
Make sure to avoid any type of teeth-whitening mouthwash or mouthwash that contains alcohol. Alcohol causes dry mouth and this interferes with your body’s natural ability to protect itself against infection.
Interdental cleaners such as dental floss clean the areas between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. It’s important to use floss that’s nylon-coated with your dental implants. You can also choose floss that’s specifically designated for use with dental implants.
Many patients find it effective to use interdental brushes to clean around their dental implants. If you use an interdental brush, make sure to get one that’s plastic or plastic-coated because interdental brushes with metal wires can irritate the soft tissue around your implants.
Studies also indicate that the Waterpik water flosser is safe and effective for use with dental implants.
