Regardless of how many teeth you’ve lost, dental implants can restore your smile and self-confidence like nothing else. Simply put, they’re the next best thing to your own teeth. And the best part is that they can last decades or even a lifetime, assuming that they’re well-maintained. Fortunately, caring for your implants isn’t complicated. In fact, it’s not too different from caring for your natural teeth. Keep reading below to find out how to maintain dental implants in West Bloomfield. You’ll also get tips for implant-retained bridges and dentures as well.
General Tips To Maintain Dental Implants
Dental implants themselves are made of surgical-grade titanium and will never develop a cavity. However, that doesn’t mean their maintenance-free. The surrounding gum tissue and underlying bone that support your implants can develop problems and eventually lead to implant failure.
Use the following tips to make sure your implants are successful long-term:
- Maintain good oral hygiene – Brush at least twice a day for two minutes (don’t forget to focus on the gumline) and floss at least once. It’s also helpful to ask a dentist or hygienist to demonstrate how to floss around your implant because it’s different than how you would floss around natural teeth.
- Get regular checkups and cleanings – Having a professional monitor your implants is essential. This allows them to catch and treat any potential problems early on before they lead to failure.
- Wear a nightguard if necessary – Nighttime clenching and grinding can damage both natural teeth and dental work. If a dentist recommends it, wear a custom-made nightguard to protect your implants.
How To Maintain Implant-Retained Bridges and Dentures
Whether you have a traditional or implant-retained bridge or denture, you’ll care for it much the same way. That includes soaking and brushing your denture daily as well as gently brushing your gums and the soft tissues in your mouth twice a day.
If you have an implant-retained bridge, use a floss threader to clean the area underneath it. Many people with a bridge do well with an oral irrigator, which thoroughly flushes out plaque, bacteria and food debris that’s otherwise difficult to reach.
Also, be sure to gently but thoroughly work your toothbrush bristles around the gumline of your implants. This will keep the tissues clean and healthy so they can continue doing their job of supporting your implants.
After tooth loss, dental implants are an outstanding investment in your oral health. Any time and effort spent maintaining them will ensure that your investment pays off for life!
About the Author
Dr. Robert Nakisher is a general, cosmetic and restorative dentist in West Bloomfield with over 25 years of experience. He knows how important maintenance is to the long-term success of dental implants and always educates his patients about the best way to care for them. If you’d like more information about dental implants or have any questions, he can be reached via his website.