How To Take Care of Your Dental Implants

False teeth with roots, otherwise known as dental implants, are like a boon for people who have one or multiple missing teeth – it’s no wonder they’re among our 6 most popular ways to improve your smile.

These implants, with screw-like stems fixed in the jaw bone and natural teeth-like abutments, provide a complete dental structure. A person can eat, speak and live comfortably with dental implants.

But to make sure these implants last long and function perfectly, you need to take proper care right from the time they are affixed in your mouth. Whether you have one implant or all-on-four type implant, dentists in Downtown Edmonton strongly recommend the following care tips.

Immediately After the Surgery

  • Be very gentle while brushing your teeth, especially the surgical area.
  • Avoid flossing for the first few days.
  • Your dentist in Downtown Edmonton must have prescribed a mouth rinse such as the Peridex Oral Rinse. Rinse your mouth for at least 30 seconds with it and spit it out. Repeat this for the first few days once after breakfast and once before going to bed.
  • You can also rinse with warm salt water (take a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water), at least 4-5 times a day and especially after meals.
  • Maintain a diet of soft food for the first few days. Avoid eating nuts, candies, chips, and other hard and crispy foods that can affect your dental implant.
  • Avoid alcohol for at least 72 hours after your implant surgery.
  • Give up on using a straw to drink for some days. Sucking drinks with a straw can pose pressure on your gums and hinder the natural healing process.
  • You can also wear a night guard if you have the habit of clenching or grinding your teeth. Night guards can protect your implants from any damage.

After Your Gums Have Healed

After about 6-8 months, when your gums have healed, and implants are in place, you can take care of your implants just the way you take care of your natural teeth.

  • Brush twice a day gently.
  • Floss every day.
  • Use toothpaste with 0.3% triclosan or 5000 ppm fluoride to protect the implants from any bacterial attack.
  • Avoid chewing non-food items such as fingernails, pens, pencils, ice, etc.

Make sure you don’t push, pull, or wiggle your dental implants as doing so may destroy the natural bone-stem healing. Schedule your visit to a dentist in Downtown Edmonton every 2-3 weeks for the first 5-6 months to ensure your dental implants are healing at the right pace. Your dentist will identify if there are any complications in your healing process or if your implants are infected.

Posted in Dental