Finally Have Your New Dental Implants? Four Ways To Keep Your Implants In Good Condition

Dentist Blog

If you've suffered premature tooth loss as a result of periodontitis, and your dentist has recommended dental implants, now's the time to learn how to care for them. Dental implants are an excellent way to replace your missing teeth. However, it's important to know that they'll require special care, especially if you want to avoid problems and complications. Here are four ways to keep your implants in good condition.

Visit Your Dentist

If you're going to have all your natural teeth replaced by implants, you may feel that you no longer require dental care. However, that's not actually true. In fact, you'll still need to see your dentist at least twice year. During your dental checkups, your dentist will check your gums for signs of infection. They'll also inspect your implants for signs of damage.

Switch From Electric to Manual

If you've been using an electric toothbrush, it's time to switch. While electric toothbrushes are a great way to get your teeth clean, the vibration can wreak havoc on your implants. Because your implants are screwed onto the metal posts, the vibration can cause them to come loose at the base. If that happens, you could lose your implant.

To prevent loss, toss out the electric brush and switch to a manual brush instead. It's also important to note that you should take care when flossing, too. Flossing too vigorously when you have implants could damage the tissue, and lead to an infection.

Watch What You Bite Down On

Once the procedure is completed, your dental implants will look, feel, and act just like your natural teeth. One important difference is that your implants won't be as strong as your natural teeth. They can be prone to breakage if they come in contact with a hard object, such as ice or hard candies. Not only that, but an implanted tooth can become dislodged if you bite down on something sticky, like a candied apple. To avoid breakage and implant loss, you should never bite down on anything hard or extremely sticky.

Avoid Extreme Heat

You may enjoy piping-hot foods and beverages, but your dental implants won't. Your implants are held in place by a small metal post. Unfortunately, when metal comes in contact with heat, it can become even hotter. That means, when you take a drink of your hot coffee or bite down on a piece of hot apple pie, the metal post is going to absorb some of that heat, which could leave you in extreme pain. Avoid that pain by turning down the heat on the things you eat and drink once your implants are in place.

For more information, contact local professionals like those found at Aaron G Birch, DDS PC.

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24 June 2017

Loving Your Smile

Do you remember the last time you looked at your smile and really loved what you saw? A few years ago I started spending more time analyzing my appearance, and I noticed that my teeth were seriously lacking. I knew that I had to do something to improve the situation, so I began focusing on loving my smile by getting some work done. I started talking with a dentist about how he could help, and it was really incredible to see the simple difference that he was able to make. Within a few years, my smile looked and felt completely different, and I was really pleased with the results. Check out this blog for great information on making your smile more beautiful.