If you are missing teeth, then dental implants would be a great solution for you. They have a really long lifespan and do not require a whole lot of maintenance. However, even though they are designed to last a lifetime, one’s oral hygiene could determine how long they actually do last. If you have recently gotten implants or plan to get them, it is important to know how to take care of them. This article will discuss some of the best practices and suggestions for cleaning your implants and the importance of regular health checkups with dentists in Deer Park, Texas.
Daily Care for Dental Implants
Dental implants are no different from the original teeth, which means they also require the same amount of cleaning and brushing. Here are a few steps that will help you achieve this effortlessly.
Brushing Twice a Day
Brush your teeth at least two times a day with soft toothbrushes. It is important to use a toothpaste that does not scratch, because it will injure the mouth gingival tissue that surrounds dental implants.
Flossing Daily
Flossing is a necessity for an implant as it is for a normal tooth. Flossing requires the use of implant-specific floss or a water flosser to cleanse the food and plaque that gets deposited in teeth spaces and around the implant.
Antibacterial Mouthwash
Using some antibacterial mouthwash after the implant is placed is beneficial in preventing the occurrence of infections.
Avoiding Harmful Habits
When a person has a dental implant installed, a few essential factors must be kept in mind otherwise, the longevity of the dental implant can be compromised. Such as:
Tobacco Use
Smoking can slow down the recovery process after the implant surgery and increases the risk of peri-implantitis, a form of gum disease that may cause the dental implant to fail. It is suggested to quit if you smoke as it will help you retain your oral health.
Be Careful About Hard Foods
Chewing on ice, hard candies and anything that could break the implant crown or damage the adjacent teeth would be a bad idea. Get used to soft foods which do not put so much pressure on the implant.
Protect Against Teeth Grinding
Grinding or clenching your teeth might not seem like a strange act. However, it can put too much stress on your dental implants. A custom night guard can prevent such grinding from occurring and wearing one can help protect your implants and other teeth.
Regular Dental Checkups
It is true that taking care of your teeth at home is great but without frequent checkups with a dentist in Deer Park, TX, maintaining the health of your dental implants becomes a bit of a challenge. Here’s what you’ll find helpful about your appointments:
Professional Cleaning
There are places that a toothbrush simply cannot reach; the implant has had some overlap in these places. Therefore, getting a simple ‘wash’ would not be enough, rather deep cleaning would be required; one that can get rid of tartar and plaque which probably is obstructing the tooth implant.
Routine Checkups
A dental checkup appointment allows practitioners to evaluate the general well-being of the implant. It allows updating their status and in certain situations taking X-rays to ensure the implant is properly integrated into the jawbone.
Caring for Dental Implants
There is nothing difficult in caring for a dental implant but it has to be done regularly. It is even simpler if good oral hygiene is practiced, harmful habits are avoided, and regular scheduled visits are made to the trusted dentist Deer Park, TX for the implants to remain healthy and functional for many years.