Caring for Dental Implants
Below is a guide on how to properly care for dental implants.
Implants restore normal chewing ability despite tooth loss. Implant-supported dentures are not only firmly anchored but also result in aesthetic and long-lasting restorations. Whether you benefit from your dental implants for a lifetime, however, also depends on you: only through thorough care will your implants remain intact.
Bacteria: risk for implants and general health
The metabolic products of bacteria can attack not only teeth but also implants. Germs can settle between the implant and the gums, invading the body from there, and in the worst-case increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and diabetes. To fight the bacteria, the body reacts with gum and bone inflammation. This also endangers the stability of the implant. You can prevent this by maintaining your implants well.
Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss
To thoroughly remove bacteria it is best to spend two to three minutes twice a day on your oral hygiene, in order to maintain your implants properly at home. Although the care of teeth and dentures is similar, implants have some special features that you should consider. Meanwhile, there is a wide range of dental care products that unsettle some patients. The range of toothbrushes alone has multiplied in recent years, above all due to the large selection of electric toothbrushes. Although good results can be achieved even with soft manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes have proven to be advantageous in many tests thanks to the fast rotation of the brush head and the low-pressure application — even with implants.
When choosing the right toothpaste, gels without overly abrasive particles are recommended as they do not threaten to reduce the gums around the implants. In order to remove bacteria from the interdental area, dental floss should be used. For implants, there are special products: so-called “superfloss” differs from other products with a stiffened end and a fluffy middle part, thus ensuring more thorough cleaning of the implant restoration. For larger spaces, interdental brushes are also ideal. They should ideally be made without metal to protect the implant material.
We will also give you tips for your individual dental and implant care because we know the specifics of your teeth and your individual risk of periodontitis.
You can check yourself whether your efforts bear fruit: it’s a bad sign if you discover deposits on the implants, the gums look dark red or begin to bleed. Bacteria may already be in the process of damaging your teeth and implants. Visiting us will ensure that we can examine you and possibly recommend a professional implant cleaning to improve your oral hygiene.
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