How to Main­tain Oral Hygiene with Den­tal Implants

Gum disease is one of the biggest risk factors for implant rejection, as this condition attacks the structures that hold the implant in place. To help prevent this highly treatable condition, good oral hygiene is recommended.

Before embarking on a dental implant treatment journey, it’s essential that you understand the aftercare requirements. These changes will not only need to be implemented during recovery, but will need to become a long-term part of your oral health care plan.

Read on to learn more about how to care for your teeth before, during and after the dental implant procedure so you can avoid conditions that might impact your long-term oral health.

Oral hygiene and dental implants

If dental implants aren’t at risk of gum disease, why is it so important to take care of them? While the actual implant and crown might not be susceptible to damage from decay, the structures that hold it in place are certainly vulnerable.

Your gums and jaw bone are essential for implant health and any issues with these structures could lead to the implant becoming loose and eventually falling out. The best way to prevent this is to avoid a build up of bacteria and plaque that could lead to inflammation.

Inflammation is often seen in the form of gum disease, which will cause the gums to shrink away from the teeth. If this happens, the tissue and bone holding the teeth in place can be more exposed to bacteria, inflammation and infection. If the infection spreads to a tooth or dental implant socket, then tooth loss will usually follow.

How to care for your teeth before dental implants

The best way to avoid issues is to go into the treatment process with healthy teeth and gums. This will establish healthy habits and help you to learn the difference between healthy gum tissue and inflamed gum tissue.

Start by visiting the dental hygienist for a deep cleaning. This will give you a fresh start with your oral hygiene and help to clean hard to reach areas such as between the teeth and along the gum line.

You can also ask for advice on how to care for your teeth at home. There may be spots in your mouth that you are missing when you brush your teeth. Addressing these before treatment will put you in the best possible position to care for your teeth.

How to care for your teeth during dental implant treatment

While going through the treatment plan, you will have to take special care of your teeth and the implant site. When the gums are still tender, you may need to brush very carefully to help prevent damage to the tissue.

You may need to visit the dentist regularly during this time, so you’ll have a chance to ask if your dental care is effective. If there are issues with how you are caring for your teeth, your dentist can intervene quickly and prevent an escalation of the problem.

How to care for your teeth after dental implants

Once your dental implant treatment is completed and fully healed, you will need to begin a life-long oral hygiene plan to protect them. This will include regular dental checkups and trips to the hygienist. You’ll also need to continue to brush your teeth twice a day and floss between your teeth and around the implant.

You may need to add additional tools to your routine, such as a water flosser or interdental brushes. Your dental hygienist can teach you how to use these tools effectively so you feel confident caring for your teeth at home.

Dental implants are not removable (unless you opt for implant-supported dentures), so you will have to care for your implant and crown as you would any other tooth. With specialist support, you should have no issue caring for your dental implants at home.

What are the best tools for caring for dental implants?

An electric toothbrush is one of the best ways to care for your implant, as this will provide precision brushing that is more effective than a manual toothbrush. If you are unsure about how to brush your teeth effectively with an electric toothbrush, ask your dental hygienist for advice.

You should also use dental floss and tape to carefully clean around your impact. For larger gaps, an interdental brush might be more appropriate. These are available in different sizes, and your dentist or hygienist will be able to advise on the right size for your teeth.

You might also want to add a water flosser to your routine. These use a jet of water to gently massage the gums and remove food debris from between the teeth. This approach should be used alongside flossing, not instead of flossing.

Final thoughts on oral hygiene with dental implants

It might sound like a lot to consider, but once you make this a part of your daily routine, you should have no problem caring for your implants at home. If you are unsure about how to care for your teeth at any point, speak to your dentist or dental hygienist. They will be able to offer personalised advice that is ideal for your teeth, rather than generic advice.