Top 10 Tips for Maintaining Your Dental Implants: Part One

Now that you have your dental implants – whether it’s one implant or multiple – what should you do to maintain them? Should you use a special toothpaste or toothbrush? What should you do to maintain those implants and make sure that they will work for the long term? For clarity, let’s break the top 10 into two categories: 5 things you can do to maintain your implants at home and 5 things that need to be done at the dental office.

5 At-Home Tips to Keep Your Dental Implants in Top Shape 

Tip #1: Toothbrushing

The first tip is brushing your teeth, a minimum of 2 times daily. Your toothbrush can be electric or can be a conventional handheld toothbrush. Either way, you must brush twice a day, typically once in the morning and once at night. If you decide to go with an electric toothbrush, make sure that it is a new version and that has a pressure indicator light. It will show you that you are brushing too hard or too little. When it comes to the type or brand of toothpaste, the choice is yours. My preference is a more organic style of toothpaste but use what you personally prefer.

Tip #2: Flossing

You still have to floss around your implants. The one trick with the floss is that it needs to be done just a little differently around the implants than around natural teeth. This is because the implant emergence profile is usually round in shape and the natural teeth are oval. When you floss around natural teeth, you move the floss up and down. Around the implant you have to hug the implant crown, meaning you might have to floss with a little bit angle to ensure that you clean out all the food debris.

Tip #3: Waterpik

Your new best friend is a Waterpik. A water irrigator is a must for people who have dental implants. It helps flush the food debris that won’t come out with brushing and flossing. There are several models now – including newer, portable styles which are smaller and more impactful, so we prefer those. They are easy to maneuver and rechargeable. Remember, the best Waterpik model for your implants is the one that you will use regularly.

Tip #4: Mouth Rinse

There are various types available including Listerine and Therabeath. I prefer to have the non -alcoholic versions. In some instances we might prescribe a medicated mouth rinse such as Peridex (chlorhexidine). However, do not use chlorhexidine rinse for long periods of time because it can stain your teeth.

Tip #5: Interproximal Brushes

These small brushes are specifically designed for implant maintenance. Two brands to look for are Tepe and Gum which come in a variety of sizes. If there are gaps between your teeth the interproximal brush is a very good choice of device to clean your implants.

Conclusion

At-home care is your first line of defense when it comes to preserving the health and longevity of your dental implants. By brushing, flossing, rinsing and using tools like a Waterpik and interproximal brushes, you’re setting your implants up for long-term success.

But don’t forget, your dentist plays a key role too in your dental implant care. In Part 2 of this series, we’ll share the 5 essential dental office tips to protect your implants, including the importance of regular cleanings, x-rays and bite adjustments. Stay tuned, you won’t want to miss it!

Please call Obeid Dental at (301) 652-9505 if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment. We serve the Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville, Potomac, MD and Washington D.C. areas.

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