If you’re considering or have already received dental implants from your Arlington dentist, taking care of them is the key to enjoying a lifelong smile. Dental implants are titanium-based artificial roots that are surgically drilled into jawbones and then used to secure replacement teeth in place. It’s critical to properly maintain your implants so that they stay healthy, look natural, and function optimally for years to come – but how do you go about doing this? In this blog post, we’ll provide some helpful tips on how to care for your dental implants in Arlington so that you can enjoy a beautiful smile for life!
Why You Should Take Caring for Your Dental Implants in Arlington is Important
Taking the time to care for your dental implants is important because it helps to ensure that the implants stay healthy, look natural, and function optimally. This means that you don’t have to worry about your smile becoming discolored or loose over time due to poor care. Plus, if something does go wrong with your implant, you can rest assured knowing that it will be easier to fix if it is properly maintained.
Dental implants are not like real teeth because they are not covered by enamel, so they cannot develop cavities. However, it is still important to maintain good oral hygiene because ignoring it can lead to gum disease. For example, bleeding of the gum tissue surrounding the implant is a common sign of a problem called mucositis.
Some other problems that can come from not caring for your dental implants include:
- pain and discomfort around the gums
- swollen gums
- inflamed gums
- chewing problems
- gum recession
- loosening implants
How to Care For Your Dental Implants Immediately After Surgery
The first thing you’re probably wondering about is how to care for your dental implants right after the procedure. It’s normal to experience pain and swelling for the first 24 hours after getting dental implants. Don’t worry, this is a regular part of the process.
Here are some tips to help you care for your dental implants and manage your pain post-surgery!
- Follow your doctor’s instructions. This includes any medications that have been prescribed, such as antibiotics to prevent infection, and pain medication to reduce discomfort.
- Avoid strenuous activities or exercise until instructed by your doctor.
- Eat soft foods that won’t put too much pressure on your dental implants.
- Gargle with warm salt water to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
- Use an oral irrigator or a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean around the implant site. Make sure to use toothpaste that is labeled “antimicrobial” or “antiseptic” as this will help protect against infection.
- Try to avoid sticky foods and sugary drinks as much as possible.
These tips will help you take good care of your dental implants right after surgery so that they can heal properly.
Ongoing Care for Your Dental Implants
After the initial healing period, it is important to make sure that you continue to care for your implants. This includes brushing, flossing, rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash, and visiting your Arlington dentist for regular checkups. Here are some things you should do for ongoing care for your dental implants
Only Use Your Dental Implants for Chewing Food
Although dental implants are generally made of stronger materials like titanium, they aren’t actually indestructible. While they may feel more natural over time, it’s important to remember that dental implants are primarily designed for chewing food. Activities like using them to open bottles, biting nails, or holding objects when both hands are occupied should be avoided. Dental implants were not intended to be used as tools, just like natural teeth. Given their expensive cost, it’s best to limit their use to their primary function: chewing.
Avoid Hard to Chew Foods
To maintain healthy dental implants, and to care for your dental implants properly, there are certain foods you should avoid because they may be difficult to chew. Foods such as popcorn, raw carrots, nuts, potato chips, and hard candy fall into this category. It’s important to note that even though you may be able to eat hard foods in general, you should still avoid these specific items. If you must have an apple, cut it into smaller pieces instead of biting directly into it.
Brush and Floss Daily
Just like you would with your natural teeth, brushing and flossing your dental implants should be done twice a day. This helps to remove plaque buildup and bacteria that can cause gum infections. You should also use toothpaste specifically made for dental implants to ensure that your implant is as healthy as possible.
For gentle but effective cleaning of your teeth and implants, try using a soft-bristle toothbrush along with low-abrasive toothpaste. This combination will help remove plaque without causing any damage or discomfort to your gums or mouth. To clean hard-to-reach areas, you can also use an interdental brush, which is designed to remove food and plaque from between teeth and implants.
To care for your dental implants properly you will also want to make sure you floss at least once a day. Floss will help you clean those hard-to-reach spots and if find normal floss hard-to-use floss threaders can also be useful! To finish up your routine an antimicrobial mouth rinse can complete your oral hygiene routine by eliminating any bacteria and strengthening your natural tooth enamel. Making sure to care for your dental implants, teeth, and gums should be a habit!
Quit Smoking
Smoking can significantly slow down the healing process after dental implant surgery. Additionally, long-term tobacco use can lead to gum disease, periodontitis, and eventually tooth loss. Quitting smoking is certainly a difficult task, and you will need to make major lifestyle changes. You can try avoiding triggers by staying away from individuals and places that may trigger a smoking addiction. Additionally, spending time with non-smokers or exercising to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms can be helpful.
Get Regular Dental Check-Ups
Finally, it’s important to visit your dentist regularly in order to check the health of your dental implants. During these visits, your dentist will examine the implant and surrounding teeth and gums and look for any signs of problems. Additionally, X-rays may be taken to ensure that the implant is healthy and functioning correctly. It’s also essential to monitor the area around the implant for any signs of gum disease or other complications.
Let Ideal Dental Solutions Help You Care For Your Dental Implants
At Ideal Dental Solutions, we are dedicated to helping you care for your dental implants properly and ensure they last a lifetime. Our knowledgeable team of dentists provides compassionate and personalized care that you deserve. If you’re in need of dental implant surgery or have any questions about caring for your dental implants, contact us today! We look forward to helping you get the healthy smile of your dreams.
