Dental implants are a modern, cutting-edge answer to tooth loss that’s quickly becoming a top choice for patients to restore their smiles. The question is, after you’ve invested your time, finances, and hope into restoring your smile, how do you preserve it? Read on to learn how to floss with dental implants and other helpful tips to upkeep your new smile.
How to Floss with Dental Implants
Flossing your teeth with dental implants is different from flossing your natural teeth, and you may encounter a few difficulties in doing so. While you won’t be able to floss between your replacement teeth, you will still need to floss underneath your restoration (if you’re able to), as well as between your restoration and natural teeth. You can do this most easily by using interdental brushes, which are small picks with brushes on the end of them that you can easily fit beneath your restoration. You may still want to use traditional dental floss to reach between your natural teeth and restoration, though.
The Importance of Flossing if You Have Dental Implants
There are several reasons you will want to thoroughly floss, even if you have dental implants. Just like with your natural teeth, plaque and tartar can still build-up along your gumline with dental implants, leading to gum infections and potentially implant failure when left unchecked. Flossing will help remove trapped food debris and bacteria to help prevent the number one cause of dental implant failure, called peri-implantitis.
Other Helpful Tips to Extend the Lifespan of Your Smile
In addition to flossing at least once a day at home, you’ll also want to care for your dental implants in Cleburne just like you would your natural teeth in other ways as well:
- Brush twice a day using fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes each time. Be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Run a clean, damp washcloth along your implant restoration to remove any bacteria and plaque on the backside as well.
- Visit your dentist once every six months for a professional checkup and cleaning. This will ensure that any early signs of concern are addressed before they’re able to compromise the health of your dental implants.
Dental implants can be a big up-front investment for a lot of people, but with proper care, they can last for over 20 years! This is what makes them an excellent investment in the long-run, allowing you to enjoy a smile that looks just as natural as it feels for decades to come.
About the Practice
At Long Family Dental of Cleburne, we are proud to offer the highest quality of comprehensive care, including leading-edge dental implant treatment for patients missing one or more teeth. We provide the start-to-finish procedure under one roof and utilize the most advanced diagnostic imaging for precise treatment planning. To learn more about dental implants, visit our website or call 817-645-2437.