How to Look After A Tooth Implant

Undergoing dental surgery and having tooth implants fitted is a great way to regain the look and function of your teeth. Implants is a good solution if you’ve lost one or more teeth, or suffer from chronic tooth pain, decay, or weak teeth. However, more so than natural teeth, tooth implants require careful maintenance, and Dental on Clarendon has the list of top tips for happy dental implants. Read on to learn more.

Be picky about your toothpaste

No more bottom shelf toothpastes for your pearly whites. Investing in tooth implants is expensive, and it’s important to take proper care of your new implants to minimise damage. Be tooth smart and invest in non-grainy, non-abrasive toothpastes that won’t scratch and wear away at the surface of your implants.

Choose soft bristles

For similar reasons to avoiding abrasive toothpastes, it’s important to swap out your beloved hard bristle brush for a soft bristle one to avoid scratches. Scratches means grooves for bacteria to collect, which in turn means the potential for an infection. Your implants can wear away slowly under the pressure of firm brushing with a hard brush – a soft brush or electrical brush is a much better bet.

Be your teeth’s best friend

Infection – especially in the time following the surgery – is more likely with implants than with normal teeth. Plaque gathers on implants in the same way it gathers on natural teeth and can overtime cause an infection known as peri-implantitis if left unchecked. This is an infection of the surrounding bone and gums, which can lead to bone loss and implant loss if left unchecked.

Do you remember those times when you were too sleepy to brush your teeth, or all those times you forewent flossing? We get it, life’s busy sometimes. However, with implants in place, you can no longer be flexible with your dental hygiene routine. That means brushing, flossing, and rinsing – flossing is especially important after implants because it helps to clean below the gumline – something brushing is unlikely to do as thoroughly.

Visit your dentist regularly

Getting dental implants is also likely to mean getting on a first-name basis with your dentist. Dental implants need professional care and maintenance. Scheduling regular appointments with your dentist to make sure that your dental hygiene routine is sufficient, and to ascertain whether the implants are still fitted right is crucial to a successful implant over time.

Note:Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.