How to Care for Your Dental Implants for Lifetime Success
Dental implants are one of the most effective solutions for replacing missing teeth. They are long-lasting and look natural. However, as with dental work, they need proper care to last long. With the best oral hygiene practices, dental implants Stockton can make you smile for many years, protecting your smile and health. Here's how to take care of your dental implants for long-term success:
1. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
As with other natural teeth, dental implants must be cleaned regularly to avert infection and other adverse conditions. Brush your implant at least twice daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste. Clean the gum line surrounding the implant, where plaque builds up very well. Specialized brushes or interdental brushes can be used to clean the challenging-to-reach spaces where the implant touches other adjacent teeth.
Brushing and flossing must go hand in hand. Use dental tape or implant-specific floss to clean between your implant and the adjacent teeth. Avoid using traditional floss, as it will be too abrasive and may destroy the gum tissue around your implant; instead, use floss for implants.
2. Professional Cleanings and Check-ups
Even if you take good care of your implants at home, professional cleanings are crucial for keeping them healthy. Your dentist or hygienist can remove any plaque or tartar that may have built up around the implant, which is hard to address by yourself.
3. Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods
As rugged, dental implants are designed for endurance. However, some foods damage your restoration and should be avoided at all costs. Hard food items, like ice or nuts, may cause fracturing of the crown or make the implant loose. Those in the form of caramel or chewing gum that cling stick may pull at the implant. Others may create plaque, which accumulates around the bottom of the implant.
If you tend to grind your teeth at night, discuss this with your dentist so he can fit you with a nightguard to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your implants and surrounding teeth.
4. Quit Smoking
Smoking is considered to be one of the primary causes of failure for a dental implant. It hampers blood circulation with chemicals such as nicotine in cigarettes or tobacco, which slows down healing and reduces the effectiveness of implants. Smoking also has an increased risk of causing gum disease, which further leads to instability in your implants.
Smokers have a lesser chance of attaining long-term success with dental implants, so consider quitting. The dentist can recommend resources that may help the patient stop smoking, benefiting his or her overall oral health as well as the health of his or her dental implant.
5. Be Knowledgeable about Problems with the Implants
Dental implants are implanted as a lifelong solution to missing teeth; however, problems can also arise over time. You must be sensitive to potential warning signs of problems with your implant, such as pain or swelling of gums around your implant region. Seek your Stockton dentist, care at once when you identify such symptoms. Early treatment of complications can mean the end of further troubles and also raises the probability of better long-term results.
6. Prevent Excessive Load on Implant
Too much pressure or force on your dental implants can compromise their stability. Avoid activities that put too much stress on your teeth, such as chewing on hard objects like pens or using your teeth to open bottles or packages. By using your implants properly, you can help ensure their long-term success.
Conclusion
This ensures your implants will remain strong and functional for a long time. Proper oral hygiene, regular professional check-ups, and lifestyle adjustments are the keys to enjoying your implants without worry. Simple guidelines such as these can keep your dental implants successful for years to come and you flashing with a healthy, beautiful smile.