Dental implants have helped countless patients in Houston and around the world to regain a complete and strong smile. This form of tooth replacement is reliable, long-lasting, and highly beneficial. However, your implants can only live up to their potential if you take good care of them! How can you do that? This blog post provides some helpful tips.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Even if you do not have any remaining natural teeth, you should visit your general dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. They will examine your implants and thoroughly clean them. They may also remove your restorations so they can clean around your implant abutments. These routine appointments can do much to prevent the buildup of plaque and bacteria, which might otherwise lead to dental implant failure.
Care for Your Oral Hygiene
Without good oral hygiene, plaque and bacteria could invade the tissue around your implants, increasing the risk of failure. Thankfully, you can brush your dental implants in almost the same way that you would natural teeth; just be sure to use a minimally abrasive toothpaste so you do not scratch your restorations.
It is also wise to floss; just be very gentle so you do not break the seal around the base of your implants. Your hygienist can coach you on what to do. Alternatively, you may choose to use a water flosser to reduce the risk of a flossing mishap. The water flosser can even be used to clean beneath your restoration if you have an implant bridge or denture.
Stick to Good Habits, and Avoid Bad Habits
Some good habits that can support the health of your dental implants include:
- Eating a nutritious, balanced diet.
- Keeping chronic conditions, such as diabetes, under control.
- Managing your overall health.
In contrast, some bad habits that might shorten the lifespan of your implants include:
- Smoking.
- Overindulging in alcohol.
- Grinding and clenching your teeth. (If you tend to grind and clench your teeth at night, you might need to ask your dentist about getting a special mouthguard.
Reduce the Risk of Injury
An injury to your mouth could compromise the integrity of your dental implants. To reduce the risk of something like that happening, you should:
- Wear a custom mouthguard when you play sports.
- Do not drive when you are drowsy or impaired in other ways.
- Be mindful of your surroundings, and minimize tripping hazards in your home.
Taking care of dental implants is almost just like caring for natural teeth! Apply the simple tips in this article to keep your restored smile healthy and functional.
Meet the Practice
Drs. Steve Koo, Thomas Weil, and William Shepard are the three skilled oral surgeons in our Houston practice. They provide a range of dental implant services, including the placement surgery, bone grafting, and more. To learn more about us and how we may be able to serve you, get in touch with Piney Point Dental Implant Center at 713-597-7340.