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Planning and Preparing for Dental Procedures: Your Questions Answered

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Planning and Preparing for Dental Procedures: Your Questions Answered

Making decisions about your smile can be confusing. Should you have a tooth pulled or get a root canal? Should you get adult braces or stick with a retainer? Should you use at-home whitening remedies or have your teeth professionally whitened? If questions like these are keeping you up at night, you've come to the right place. I used to stress out over routine dental procedures, and as a result, I did loads of research on everything dental-related. To help others, I'm using this blog as a place to collect, review and share what I've learned through the years. I hope you can use the information here to help you plan and prepare for your next dental appointment.

5 Ways to Look After Your Dental Implants

26 January 2018
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

If you lose your natural teeth, dental implants are a good replacement option. Whether they are placed in the bone (endosteal) or on it (subperiosteal) it is essential that you take good care of these fittings for them to serve you well. Here are a several ways to look after your dental implants.

•    Brush Them Just as Well

Dental implants require regular brushing just like natural teeth. Do it twice a day and use mouthwash at least once a day to ward off bacteria and plaque formation.

•    Use the Right Toothpaste

When cleaning the implants, it's necessary to know the best type of toothpaste to use. Do not use any toothpaste that contains sodium chloride, stain removers or baking soda. These constituent elements will scratch any surface of the dental implant that is exposed leading to possible damage. Whatever toothpaste you use ought to be low abrasive.

•    Avoid Taking Hot Drinks or Foods

Hot foods or drinks and dental implants don't interact well. When you consume any hot food or drink there, is a risk of the heat transferring to the metal part of the implant via the gum tissue. When this heat gets to the implant, it damages the tissue around it which in turn weakens. This can lead to inability of holding the implant in place. The best way to tell if its too hot to eat or drink is to check whether it singes your tongue.

•    Clean Them Professionally Twice a Year

With daily use of your implants, there is residue that will collect between the caps of the implant and also on them. Visiting a professional for implant cleaning twice per year ensures that such residue is eliminated. They will also assess your implants and the surrounding tissue with each visit and advice on how to better care for them.

•    Floss Correctly

The best type of floss to use with dental implants is one that contains no wax. You can also use floss specific to your type of implant. Water flossers will also work. Where there are multiple implants, a threader might best serve the purpose. Always ensure the floss doesn't touch the gum as the membrane present at the bottom of natural teeth is no longer there.

Conclusion

You don't have to lose daily oral functions if you no longer have your natural teeth. Dental implants step in to help you carry on. Understanding how to best care for your implants will help prolong their lifespan.