4 Cleaning Tips for Dental Implants

Keeping dental implants clean is essential to maintaining your oral health. Without regular cleaning, plaque can develop on the implants, allowing bacteria to breed in the mouth, which can lead to gum disease. In extreme cases, gum disease will affect the implants to the degree that a dentist will have to remove them. To protect your dental implants and your overall oral health, follow these cleaning tips.

1. Brush Mindfully

Sure, you brush your dental implants every morning and evening, but how much attention do you pay while doing it? When you have dental implants, it is easy to press too hard with your toothbrush as you do not have the immediate sensory feedback that natural teeth provide. Excessive pressure can lead to scratches on the surfaces of the crowns that attract stains and plaque. When cleaning your teeth in a rush, it is also easy to miss cleaning certain areas, such as the backs or chewing surfaces of the crowns.

The best way to improve your daily brush is to pay attention. Put down your phone and focus on the task. Using an electric toothbrush with a timer and pressure sensor can also help.

2. Floss Daily

Flossing between and around dental implants helps to remove plaque and therefore lowers your risk of gum disease. Depending on the configuration of your dental implants, you might find string floss difficult to use, in which case you could try using an interdental brush, floss pick, water flosser, or bridge floss instead.

3. Rinse After Eating

Mouthwash can be a great addition to your oral hygiene routine. The most effective time to use mouthwash is immediately after a meal so it can wash away traces of food and plaque out of your mouth. Some brands of mouthwash also contain antibacterial ingredients, which can help to reduce the growth of bacteria in the mouth and therefore lower your risk of gum disease. If you are not sure which mouthwash product is right for you and your dental implants, ask your dentist for a recommendation.

4. Visit Your Dentist for a Professional Clean

No matter how carefully you brush, floss, and rinse your dental implants, it can be difficult to keep them perfectly clean. By visiting your dentist for regular professional cleans, you can help your implants to stay cleaner and in better condition. Regular dental checkups also allow your dentist to keep an eye on the health of your gums.


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