Dental Implants are expensive dental procedures that require care and attention to ensure that they last for a long time. A front tooth dental implant cost alone can seem enough to cover a lot of other bills or cater to your other personal needs.
The surgical procedure, if successful, becomes a permanent fixture in the mouth, unlike dentures that can be taken out. This is why it is necessary to take care of your dental implants because they remain with you for a long, long time.
Dental fixtures are becoming increasingly popular and a preferred alternative to partial or full dentures. So, if you’re planning to get one or have gotten a dental implant surgery done, we’ll share with you the steps to take to provide the necessary care for your dental implants.
6 Tips to Help You Take Care of Your Dental Implant
Dental implants bring back your smile and make you feel even more confident to do so. To ensure your smile lasts as long as possible, use these tips to keep your implants healthy.
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Brush with a Soft Nylon Brush
You’re likely not going to be able to use your regular toothbrush after you get a dental implant. No more hard-bristled toothbrushes for you. Instead, you’ll need to get a soft nylon toothbrush that will not harm your dental implant.
Nylon toothbrushes have flexible bristles that are not harsh on dental implants. Hard-bristled brushes are too rough and will scratch the surface of the implant, which can damage it.
You can also get a Proxabrush that will help you reach parts of your teeth a regular brush won’t. It’ll get into corners in your implant and scrub out unwanted debris that could cause tooth decay.
Never use any metal instruments to clean your mouth once the dental implant is fitted. Floss regularly and brush with recommended toothbrushes as usual.
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Floss Like Never Before
Dental implants leave room for debris to sit in the corners of the prosthetic tooth or plaque to form around the implant. This is why flossing every day should become a priority for you. It should be so vital that you may have to set a reminder to prompt you to floss every day.
There are special types of flosses that have been designed for dental implants, so you have no excuse. Keep a floss handy at all times so you can always do it as soon as you remember. One cool time to floss is when you’re watching TV at the end of the day.
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Steer Clear Off Sticky or Chewy Food
Getting a dental implant may also result in minor dietary changes and slight modifications. For example, you must avoid sticky or hard kinds of food. They may not only damage your implant but also the surrounding tooth as well.
If you’re not sure what types of food fall into this category, here’s a list for you:
- Carrot
- Steak
- Potato Chips
- Candy
- Gum
- Tacos (Hard-shelled)
- Ice cubes
- Caramel
- Apples
- etc.
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Don’t Use Abrasive Products
When you get your dental implants, be careful of using harsh products on your teeth. Instead, go for gentler, sensitive products, for instance, when you buy your mouthwash or toothpaste.
Stay away from intense flavors that may cause discomfort in your mouth. Some of these intense flavors in food and oral hygiene products include:
- Mint
- Cinnamon
- Lime or Lemon
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Don’t Drink or Smoke
This goes without saying, but here’s a friendly reminder. If you’ve just got dental implants, don’t drink or smoke. While these are bad for your health in general, they also affect your dental implants.
Avoid alcohol and cigarettes, or other smokable substances once your implants are in. Implants take up to 6 months to completely heal, so exposing them to these dangerous substances can affect your healing process and pace.
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See Your Dentist Regularly
Never miss a dentist appointment once you have your implants in. Sure, an implant gives you better-looking dentition; you cannot, however, use it as a solution to all your dental needs. So, you still need your dentist for your oral health.
Also, when not properly cared for and examined by a dentist, a dental implant may lead to severe issues that need more surgical procedures to fix. Going to your dental appointments on schedule helps your dentist detect any abnormalities quickly and take care of them.
On a Final Note
Caring for your dental implant is easy and hassle-free. It’ll only require a tiny modification to your lifestyle and frequent dentists visits. The problem with dental implants begins when you neglect them or ignore the tips we’ve shared above.
