Restoring your smile with dental implants is an exciting opportunity, but you need to know how to properly care for your them so you can maintain their appearance, functionality, and overall lifespan.
In this article, we will go over everything you need to know about dental implants, how to care for them, and explain why you should trust Eriks Dental Group in Boynton Beach for this important (and often life-changing) procedure.
How To Care For Dental Implants
Taking these steps will help you get the most out of your dental implants. If you care for them properly, your new implants can last the rest of your life.
1. Switch To A Soft Nylon Toothbrush
Although it is often recommended to use a toothbrush with hard bristles on your natural teeth, these types of bristles are not appropriate to use on dental implants. Hard bristles can scratch the surface of your dental implants, but nylon bristles are pliable and gentle on implants. For cleaning the hard-to-reach spaces in between your dental implants, you can use a Proxabrush, but you should refrain from using any metal tools or instruments to clean your implants. You should brush and floss twice a day for optimal oral health.
2. Avoid Strongly-Flavored Or Abrasive Mouthwash & Toothpaste
Oral hygiene products that are abrasive or have a strong mint or cinnamon flavor can cause severe discomfort for people who have dental implants. Opting for unflavored and sensitive formula mouthwash and toothpaste can help you avoid this issue.
3. Floss Twice A Day
Flossing is especially important when you have dental implants because it is easier for plaque to accumulate around the implants, and this can lead to other dental issues. There are even different types of floss that are specially designed to clean dental implants.
If you have a hard time remembering to floss, here are some ways to remind yourself to complete this crucial oral hygiene task twice every day:
- Set reminders on your phone: This will make it easier to keep this chore top of mind since your phone is always nearby.
- Keep floss in your car or purse: You will always have access to floss during any downtime in your busy day.
- Floss while you’re watching TV: Flossing while doing a mindless activity like watching TV can make it feel less like a chore.
- Reward yourself for flossing: For example, if you floss twice a day for a week, reward yourself that weekend by watching an extra hour of your favorite TV show or doing another activity you enjoy. Give yourself a bigger reward for flossing two times each day for a month, such as buying yourself a new pair of shoes or spending a day at the spa.
4. Avoid Hard Or Sticky Foods
Eating hard, sticky, or very chewy foods can damage your implants and any remaining natural teeth you may have.
Some foods you should avoid or eat in moderation when you have dental implants include:
- Whole Apples
- Caramel
- Carrots
- Crusty bread, such as French bread
- Dried fruit
- Hard candy
- Hardshell tacos
- Ice
- Potato chips
- Steak
Limiting or avoiding sticky and hard foods can help keep your dental implants in tip-top shape.
5. Avoid Alcohol & Smoking
Abstaining from alcohol and smoking can benefit your overall health, but it is imperative to avoid these harmful habits if you have implants.
It will take about six months to fully heal after getting dental implants. Smoking or drinking during this crucial recovery period.
6. Visit The Dentist Regularly
Getting implants can help you improve the appearance of your smile, but they are not a cure-all for oral health issues. You should go to the dentist for a cleaning and exam at least every six months. If you have gum disease or other problems, you may need to see your dentist more frequently.
7. Use These Immediate Aftercare Tips
If you are considering getting dental implants or have already scheduled your first procedure, you may be wondering what you should do immediately after getting implants to start on the right foot with your recovery.
Here are some self-care tips for recovering after your implant procedure:
- To control bleeding, bite down gently on the sponges or gauze your dentist placed in your mouth
- Keep your head elevated and avoid excessive movement for the first 8 to 12 hours after surgery
- To limit swelling in your face and jaw, hold an ice pack to your face in 15-minute intervals as needed
- Limit your diet to water and soft foods for the first 24 hours of your recovery
- You can take Tylenol (acetaminophen) for pain relief, but you must avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
- Get eight hours of sleep each night and take a few days off from work if your job requires strenuous activity
- Schedule a 14-day post-operative appointment to have stitches removed if the stitches will not dissolve on their own
- Dental implants are not designed to absorb the shock of a strong bite or teeth-clenching. If you tend to clench or grind your teeth, your dentist may recommend that you use a mouth guard to prevent damaging your implants.
Keep in mind that pain and swelling are normal in the first 24 hours after your procedure, and you should not drive yourself home, as you will still be under the influence of the anesthesia.
8. Use Antimicrobial Mouthwash
Rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash will reduce bacteria in your mouth. This helps prevent gum disease and peri-implantitis, a condition that causes gum inflammation around the soft tissue and deterioration of the bone supporting the implant. Treatment for peri-implantitis usually involves surgery.
Getting Dental Implants At Eriks Dental Group In Boynton Beach
Eriks Dental Group is a dental practice that gives compassionate care. We offer single-tooth, multi-tooth, and denture-supported dental implants to suit various treatment needs.
In addition to implants, we can also provide:
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Dental crowns
- Dental fillings
- Family dentistry
- Invisalign
- Root canal therapy
- Teeth cleaning
- Teeth whitening
- Veneers
We are an in-network provider for many insurance plans, and we can help you with paperwork for out-of-network coverage.
Ready for the smile of your dreams? Please call us at 561-733-4004 today to schedule an appointment or get more information.