How to take care of dental implants?
During the last few years, dental implants by far have become the most chosen solution for missing teeth. And it is not only for their natural look but also for all the benefits they bring to the users’ oral health and their long lifespan.
Your Dental Implants
First, it is essential to know how the dental implant is comprised. There are three main parts, the screw-shaped post that is placed in your jawbone, the abutment and the exposed part, and the crown. Taking care of the three of them is important for your implant to last as much as possible. The post can get loose or fall with the whole implant, and the crown can get cracked or broken. To reduce the chance of suffering these incidents you should take care of your implant as if it were your real teeth.
Post Surgery
After the surgery is when your mouth and implants are more vulnerable. There are some precautions that should be considered, such as resting or eating soft and cold food during the first couple of days. Also avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol which can prejudice the healing process, applying ice to calm your swollen gums. And, last but not least, following your dentist’s instructions.
Cleaning
There are some tips for cleaning your teeth that are essential for good oral health. Even though you have to take care of them as if they were real teeth, you should give them special care.
If you want your implants to last long, brushing them at least twice a day is a great start. An important piece of advice is that you should use a soft-bristled toothbrush and low abrasive toothpaste to protect your implants. However, it is not enough. Cleaning under the implant is extremely necessary to take the plaque and remaining food that might get stuck. A way to solve this is flossing your teeth with a floss specific for implants or using a water flosser, given the chance. If it isn’t done, it could generate bacteria and lead to a peri-implantitis, infection or, in the worst case, an implant failure.
Caring
Having good oral hygiene isn’t enough to protect your dental implants. Your habits will have to change for their well-being.
Good overall health is reflected in your oral health, so having a balanced diet and avoiding eating too crunchy, hard or chewy food are examples of beneficial habits. If you are a smoker, consider quitting, this is due to the exposure to infections it brings by decreasing the amount of saliva and its effects on your immune system. There are more habits that could help you take care of your implants, such as using a mouthguard to protect your crown from impacts if you play a contact sport. And in case you suffer from bruxism a night guard might be the best option to protect your implants from getting chipped.
Being aware of your mouth’s well-being can help you from getting infections. It is better for patients with dental implants to carefully follow their dentist’s instructions and visit them at least twice a year to prevent, and in some cases detect on time, any complication.
Conclusion
In conclusion, taking good care of your implants is worth the effort since they can last on average 30 years. The crown usually needs to be changed after a few years, but the implant itself lasts a lifetime. This means the better you take care of them, the longer you will be able to take advantage of all their benefits. Schedule a consultation with an Esteem professional near you to take good care of your dental implants.