5 Best Practices for Taking Care of Dental Implants

Dental implants are durable medical devices that can last for years. If you make good dental implants care a routine practice, they can last a lifetime. Caring for implants is just like caring for your natural teeth. You will be doing regular flossing, brushing, and booking dental cleanings. But, there are a couple of tips you should know if you want to keep these devices in good shape.

1.    Avoid abrasive toothpaste

Every toothpaste has some kind of abrasiveness to it. A toothpaste with below 70 RDA has low abrasiveness and is considered safe for continual use. From 70 to 150 RDA score has medium-to-high abrasiveness and a dentist should monitor it.

To know if your toothpaste is too abrasive, rub some of it on the shiny side of the tin foil. Rinse the foil and check the surface. If there is scratching on the area where you applied the toothpaste, it may be too abrasive.

2.    Switch toothbrushes

For proper dental implants care, you should use a soft-bristled brush for gentle scrubbing. We also suggest people use an interdental brush to better clean the tiny spots between the implants and teeth. This small brush reaches where a regular toothbrush can’t.

In the first couple of weeks after your dental implant placement, go for a manual toothbrush. This way you can avoid irritating the sensitive tissues and hindering the rejuvenation process.

3.    Cut back on hard or sticky snacks

After the healing period, you should be making a couple of dietary adjustments. This can help you establish better dental implants care. Our dentists always recommend that you eat hard foods with care. But, it is best to avoid hard candy, nuts, chips, or any sticky snacks, like gum, toffee, or caramels, since they can all damage the implants.

4.    Make flossing a mindless habit

Floss before you brush your teeth every night to allow toothpaste to get into hard to reach areas. If you don’t think flossing is necessary or too much of a chore, floss after brushing your teeth and see how much you’ve missed day after day. Flossing is the best practice you can do to protect your implants at their roots.

5.    Schedule regular dental cleanings

Whether you have one or multiple implants, you should get dental cleanings every 6 months. Other patients might require implant maintenance every 3 months.

For adequate dental implants care, we recommend more professional cleanings for people with a history of gum disease or ongoing dental problems. Otherwise, there will be tartar and stain buildup.

If you are looking for the best ways to keep your dental implants looking spotless, book an appointment today at Jamestowne South Dental in Bingham Farms, Michigan. Our team is happy to help!

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