Have you recently had a dental implant surgery? Here’s how to choose the best oral care products to keep your tooth implants in top condition.
Whatever denture solution you opt for, be it traditional dentures or tooth implants, keeping your false teeth clean is extremely important for your dental and general health. Following a strict oral care routine every night will:
- Keep your replacement teeth looking and functioning their very best.
- Prevent any bacteria buildup.
- Lower your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
- Lower your overall denture costs
- Prevent any need for constant denture replacements and repairs.
Customized Tooth Implants & Other Denture Solutions in Calgary
At Future Smiles, we believe everyone deserves a healthy, beautiful, and fully-functional smile, which is why we offer a wide range of denture solutions from tooth implants and flexible partials, to more traditional dentures.
Whatever your oral needs and concerns, we help to restore the aesthetics and function to your smile so you can live a happier and healthier life.
How to Choose the Right Cleaning Products For Your Tooth Implants
While dentures must be removed every night, the biggest benefit of getting tooth implants is that you care for them the way you look after your natural teeth - by following a regular brushing and flossing schedule.
The main difference? You must select oral hygiene products that are gentle on your implants because it’s important to avoid scratching them and aggravating the soft tissue around the tooth implant.
Why Good Hygiene is So Important For Tooth Implants
Dental implants can last a lifetime if taken care of properly and this begins with adopting an effective preventive hygiene routine at home. One of the most significant risks to tooth implants when not taken care of is peri-implantitis.
What is peri-implantitis? This is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the soft tissue around your implant. It typically begins with the following symptoms:
- Pain around your tooth implant
- Bleeding at your gum line
- Loose implant
- Swollen lymph nodes
What happens if I get peri-implantitis? Peri-implantitis can have some undesirable consequences such as bone loss and may even result in you losing your implant. That’s why it’s so important to follow a strict oral hygiene routine, so you can protect the longevity of your tooth implant.
Choosing the Best Toothpaste and Toothbrush For Your Implants
You can keep your tooth implant and the areas around it clean using either a manual or electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes are often recommended for patients who have difficulty applying sufficient pressure on their own.
Keep in mind:
- Soft or extra soft bristles will keep your implants from being scratched
- Try to brush for at least two minutes, thoroughly covering all sections of your teeth.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and after meals, if you can.
Choosing Toothpaste
If you have tooth implants, stay away from toothpaste that contain abrasive ingredients, as this can damage your implants. Try to avoid any stain removing toothpaste or any product that contains baking soda or sodium fluoride.
Choosing Mouthwash and Floss
When you are choosing a mouthwash for your tooth implants, make sure to avoid any products that contain alcohol as this causes dry mouth and may interfere with your body’s natural ability to protect itself against infection.
Try interdental brushes: Many patients find that using interdental brushes make it easier to clean around the dental implant. If you want to use one, make sure that it is plastic or plastic-coated as those with metal wires can irritate the soft tissue around your tooth implant.
Call Today
To find out more about our customized tooth implant procedures, or to learn how to care for your dental implants, contact our Calgary clinic at (403) 475-0016 or book a consultation.